title: Granzyme B directly and efficiently cleaves several downstream caspase substrates: implications for CTL-induced apoptosis.
abstract: Caspase-mediated proteolysis of downstream substrates is a critical element of the execution pathway common to all forms of apoptosis studied to date. While this caspase-dependent pathway is activated during cytotoxic lymphocyte granule-induced cell death, recent studies have also provided evidence for caspase-independent pathways. However, the mechanisms mediating these additional pathways have not been defined. The current study demonstrates that DNA-PKcs and NuMA are directly and efficiently cleaved by granzyme B in vitro and in vivo, generating unique substrate fragments not observed during other forms of apoptosis. This direct, caspase-independent ability of granzyme B to cleave downstream death substrates constitutes an apoptotic effector mechanism that is insensitive to inhibitors of the signaling or execution components of the endogenous apoptotic cascade.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thornberry
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Casciola-Rosen
mesh_terms: D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D051747:DNA-Activated Protein Kinase; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D053804:Granzymes; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000276:immunology; D034521:Nuclear Matrix-Associated Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D001324:Autoantigens; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C050045:NUMA1 protein, human; D034521:Nuclear Matrix-Associated Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D019014:fas Receptor; D051747:DNA-Activated Protein Kinase; C497263:PRKDC protein, human; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C509213:GZMB protein, human; D053804:Granzymes; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases