title: The adaptor protein TRADD activates distinct mechanisms of apoptosis from the nucleus and the cytoplasm.
abstract: TNFR1 associated death domain protein (TRADD) contains an N-terminal TRAF binding domain and a C-terminal death domain along with nuclear import and export sequences that cause shuttling between the cytoplasm and nucleus. The death domain of TRADD contains the nuclear import sequence and expression of the core death domain (nuclear TRADD) results in exclusive nuclear localization and activation of a distinct apoptotic pathway. Cytoplasmic TRADD activates apoptosis through Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD) and caspase-8 activation that was blocked by caspase inhibitors or dominant-negative FADD. These inhibitors did not inhibit death induced by nuclear TRADD, which could only be inhibited by combining caspase inhibitors and a serine protease inhibitor. The pathway activated by nuclear TRADD requires caspase-9 catalytic activity. However, apoptosis activating factor deficiency confers only partial protection from death. This pathway represents an alternate means by which TRADD can regulate cell death independently of FADD and caspase-8 that occurs from the nucleus rather than the cytoplasm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Bender
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Z-G
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thorburn
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D053181:Caspase 8; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice / Q000196:embryology; D053199:TNF Receptor-Associated Death Domain Protein; D047988:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D053199:TNF Receptor-Associated Death Domain Protein; C481226:Tradd protein, mouse; D047988:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Peptides and Proteins; C505530:CASP8 protein, human; C505526:Casp8 protein, mouse; D053181:Caspase 8; D020169:Caspases