title: Dephosphorylation targets Bcl-2 for ubiquitin-dependent degradation: a link between the apoptosome and the proteasome pathway.
abstract: Injury of the endothelial cells by the induction of apoptotic cell death may play an important role in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and the progression of inflammatory diseases. Here, we demonstrate an essential role for the ubiquitin-dependent proteasome complex in stimulus-induced degradation of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. Bcl-2 is specifically degraded after stimulation of human endothelial cells with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in a process that is inhibited by specific proteasome inhibitors. In addition, the mutation of the potential ubiquitin-acceptor amino acids of Bcl-2 provides protection against TNF-alpha- and staurosporine-induced degradation in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, mimicking phosphorylation of the putative mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase sites of the Bcl-2 protein (Thr 56, Thr 74, and Ser 87) abolishes its degradation, suggesting a link between the MAP kinase pathway to the proteasome pathway. Finally, inhibition of Bcl-2 degradation either by suppressing ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation or by mimicking continuous phosphorylation of the putative MAP kinase sites in the Bcl-2 protein confers resistance against induction of apoptosis. Thus, the degradation of Bcl-2 may unleash the inhibitory function of Bcl-2 over the apoptosome and may thereby amplify the activation of the caspase cascade.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine IV, Division of Molecular Cardiology, University of Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dimmeler
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Breitschopf
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haendeler
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zeiher
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001665:Binding Sites; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D006801:Humans; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D010766:Phosphorylation; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019311:Staurosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014162:Transfection; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D014452:Ubiquitins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014452:Ubiquitins; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; D019311:Staurosporine