Caspase-mediated activation of PAK2 during apoptosis: proteolytic kinase activation as a general mechanism of apoptotic signal transduction?
p21-activated kinase 2 (PAK2) is proteolytically cleaved during apoptosis through the action of DEVD-sensitive caspase(s). This cleavage event causes PAK2 activation, and PAK2 activity is implicated in regulation of the biochemistry and morphology of the apoptotic cell. PAK2 is just one example of a number of identified caspase targets that are protein kinases involved in regulating various aspects of cell function. We hypothesize that this may reflect their important role in regulating the controlled and orderly demise of the dying cell.
Bokoch
G M
GM
Departments of Immunology and Cell Biology-IMM14, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. bokoch@scripps.edu
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D054462:p21-Activated Kinases
C515907:PAK2 protein, human; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D054462:p21-Activated Kinases; D020169:Caspases