title: Caspase-7 expanded function and intrinsic expression level underlies strain-specific brain phenotype of caspase-3-null mice.
abstract: Caspase-3-deficient mice of the 129S1/SvImJ (129) strain show severe brain development defects resulting in brain overgrowth and perinatal lethality, whereas on the C57BL/6J (B6) background, these mice develop normally. We therefore sought to identify the strain-dependent ameliorating gene. We biochemically isolated caspase-7 from B6-caspase-3-null (Casp3-/-) tissues as being the enzyme with caspase-3-like properties and capability of performing a caspase-3 surrogate function, apoptotic DNA fragmentation. Moreover, we show that, in contrast to the human enzymes, mouse caspase-7 is as efficient as caspase-3 at cleaving and thus inactivating ICAD (inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase), the inhibitor of apoptotic DNA fragmentation. Low levels of caspase-7 expression and activation correlate with lack of DNA fragmentation in 129-Casp3-/- apoptotic precursor neurons, whereas B6-Casp3-/- cells, which can fragment their DNA, show higher levels of caspase-7 expression and activation. The amount of caspase-7 activation in apoptotic precursor neurons is independent of the presence of caspase-3. Together, our findings demonstrate for the first time a strong correlation between caspase-7 activity, normal brain development, and apoptotic DNA fragmentation in Casp3-/- mice.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y6, Canada.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Houde
authors.forename: Kathleen G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Coulombe
authors.forename: Dita
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rasper
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grimm
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Donald W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Nicholson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000196:embryology; D053148:Caspase 3; D053179:Caspase 7; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D020169:Caspases / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000235:genetics; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010641:Phenotype; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D011506:Proteins; C109664:caspase-activated DNase inhibitor; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C505520:CASP7 protein, human; C505409:Casp3 protein, mouse; C505524:Casp7 protein, mouse; D053148:Caspase 3; D053179:Caspase 7; D020169:Caspases; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases