title: Chopper, a new death domain of the p75 neurotrophin receptor that mediates rapid neuronal cell death.
abstract: The cytoplasmic juxtamembrane region of the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75(NTR)) has been found to be necessary and sufficient to initiate neural cell death. The region was named "Chopper" to distinguish it from CD95-like death domains. A 29-amino acid peptide corresponding to the Chopper region induced caspase- and calpain-mediated death in a variety of neural and non-neural cell types and was not inhibited by signaling through Trk (unlike killing by full-length p75(NTR)). Chopper triggered cell death only when bound to the plasma membrane by a lipid anchor, whereas non-anchored Chopper acted in a dominant-negative manner, blocking p75(NTR)-mediated death both in vitro and in vivo. Removal of the ectodomain of p75(NTR) increased the potency of Chopper activity, suggesting that it regulates the association of Chopper with downstream signaling proteins.
authors.affiliation: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Post Office, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050, Australia. coulson@wehi.edu.au
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Coulson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baca
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Shipham
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hulett
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kilpatrick
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Bartlett
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D002154:Calpain / Q000378:metabolism; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology*; D016764:Cell Polarity; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D002154:Calpain; D020169:Caspases