A caspase-related protease regulates apoptosis in yeast.
Yeast can undergo cell death accompanied by cellular markers of apoptosis. However, orthologs of classical mammalian apoptosis regulators appeared to be missing from the yeast genome, challenging a common mechanism of yeast and mammalian apoptosis. Here we investigate Yor197w, a yeast protein with structural homology to mammalian caspases, and demonstrate caspase-like processing of the protein. Hydrogen peroxide treatment induces apoptosis together with a caspase-like enzymatic activity in yeast. This response is completely abrogated after disruption and strongly stimulated after overexpression of Yor197w. Yor197w also mediates the death process within chronologically aged cultures, pointing to a physiological role in elimination of overaged cells. We conclude that Yor197w indeed functions as a bona fide caspase in yeast and propose the name Yeast Caspase-1 (YCA1, gene YCA1).
Madeo
Frank
F
Institute for Physiological Chemistry, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Strasse 4, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. frank.madeo@uni-tuebingen.de
Herker
Eva
E
Maldener
Corinna
C
Wissing
Silke
S
Lächelt
Stephan
S
Herlan
Mark
M
Fehr
Markus
M
Lauber
Kirsten
K
Sigrist
Stephan J
SJ
Wesselborg
Sebastian
S
Fröhlich
Kai Uwe
KU
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D020169:Caspases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D005686:Galactokinase / Q000235:genetics; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D016877:Oxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*
D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D016877:Oxidants; C456273:RSM23 protein, S cerevisiae; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D005686:Galactokinase; D020169:Caspases; C456272:MCA1 protein, S cerevisiae