title: Caspase 3 cleavage of the Ste20-related kinase SLK releases and activates an apoptosis-inducing kinase domain and an actin-disassembling region.
abstract: We have demonstrated that a novel Ste20-related kinase, designated SLK, mediates apoptosis and actin stress fiber dissolution through distinct domains generated by caspase 3 cleavage. Overexpression of SLK in C2C12 myoblasts stimulated the disassembly of actin stress fibers and focal adhesions and induced apoptosis, as determined by annexin V binding and terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling analysis. SLK was cleaved by caspase 3 in vitro and in vivo during c-Myc-, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and UV-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, cleavage of SLK released two domains with distinct activities: an activated N-terminal kinase domain that promoted apoptosis and cytoskeletal rearrangements and a C-terminus domain that disassembled actin stress fibers. Moreover, our analysis has identified a novel conserved region (termed the AT1-46 homology domain) that efficiently promotes stress fiber disassembly. Finally, transient transfection of SLK also activated the c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathway. Our results suggest that caspase-activated SLK represents a novel effector of cytoskeletal remodeling and apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Molecular Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Sabourin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamai
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seale
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rudnicki
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D009132:Muscles / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques; D000099317:Hippo Kinases
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C485733:SLK protein, human; D000099317:Hippo Kinases; C402650:SLK protein, mouse; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C505409:Casp3 protein, mouse