Ecdysone-mediated up-regulation of the effector caspase DRICE is required for hormone-dependent apoptosis in Drosophila cells.
The Drosophila steroid hormone ecdysone mediates cell death during metamorphosis by regulating the transcription of a number of cell death genes. The apical caspase DRONC is known to be transcriptionally regulated by ecdysone during development. Here we demonstrate that ecdysone also regulates the transcription of DRICE, a major effector caspase and a downstream target for DRONC in the fly. Using RNA interference in an ecdysone-responsive Drosophila cell line, we show that drice up-regulation is essential for apoptosis induced by ecdysone. We also show that drice expression is specifically controlled by the ecdysone-regulated transcription factor BR-C. Combined with previous observations, our results indicate that transcriptional regulation of the components of the core apoptotic machinery plays a key role in hormone-regulated programmed cell death during Drosophila development.
Kilpatrick
Zoé E
ZE
Hanson Institute, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, PO Box 14, Rundle Mall, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
Cakouros
Dimitrios
D
Kumar
Sharad
S
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D020169:Caspases / Q000235:genetics*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D004440:Ecdysone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D015854:Up-Regulation
C102117:Br protein, Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004440:Ecdysone; D020169:Caspases; C109171:drICE protein, Drosophila