Need for caspase-2 in apoptosis of growth-factor-deprived PC12 cells.
Previous studies have shown that caspases (proteases related to interleukin-1beta converting enzyme) are needed for the death of trophic factor-deprived PC12 cells. However, the protease involved in this process has not been identified. The results presented here strongly suggest that caspase-2 (Nedd2/Ich-1) plays a major role in the death of serum-deprived PC12 cells. We show that in PC12 cells overexpression of caspase-2 induces cell death, serum deprivation induces processing (i.e., activation) of the 48-kDa pro-caspase-2, and stable expression of caspase-2 antisense RNA inhibits apoptosis induced by serum deprivation. In addition, overexpression of bcl-2, which prevents this death process, also inhibits the processing of pro-caspase-2, suggesting that bcl-2 acts upstream of pro-caspase-2 activation.
Haviv
R
R
Department of Neurobiochemistry, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
Lindenboim
L
L
Yuan
J
J
Stein
R
R
D000818:Animals; D016375:Antisense Elements (Genetics) / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D053143:Caspase 2; D020169:Caspases; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000502:physiology; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000378:metabolism; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000172:deficiency*; D016716:PC12 Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats
D016375:Antisense Elements (Genetics); D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D006133:Growth Substances; D011506:Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D053143:Caspase 2; D020169:Caspases