Caspase-3 inhibits growth in Saccharomyces cerevisiae without causing cell death.
Caspase-3, a member of the caspase family of cell death proteases, cleaves cytoplasmic and nuclear substrates and promotes apoptotic cell death in mammalian cells. Although yeast homologs of apoptotic genes have not been identified, some components of apoptotic pathways retain function in yeast. Here we show that the expression of caspase-3 delays cell growth in Saccharomyces cerevesiae without causing cell death. Mutation of the caspase-3 QACRG active site abolished effects on yeast growth. Co-expression of caspase inhibitors alleviated growth inhibition in yeast as did the tripeptide caspase inhibitor ZVAD-fmk. These results suggest that substrates for caspase-3 are present in S. cerevesiae and may participate in the normal cell growth and division processes.
Wright
M E
ME
Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, USA. mawright@fhcrc.org
Han
D K
DK
Carter
L
L
Fields
S
S
Schwartz
S M
SM
Hockenbery
D M
DM
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000235:genetics*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases