title: Oligomerization state of the DNA fragmentation factor in normal and apoptotic cells.
abstract: The caspase-activated DNase (CAD) is the primary nuclease responsible for oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation during apoptosis. The DNA fragmentation factor (DFF) is composed of the 40-kDa CAD (DFF40) in complex with its cognate 45-kDa inhibitor (inhibitor of CAD: ICAD or DFF45). The association of ICAD with CAD not only inhibits the DNase activity but is also essential for the co-translational folding of CAD. Activation of CAD requires caspase-3-dependent proteolysis of ICAD. The tertiary structures of neither the inactive nor the activated DFF have been conclusively established. Whereas the inactive DFF is thought to consist of the CAD/ICAD heterodimer, activated CAD has been isolated as a large (>MDa) multimer, as well as a monomer. To establish the subunit stoichiometry of DFF and some of its structural determinants in normal and apoptotic cells, we utilized size-exclusion chromatography in combination with co-immunoprecipitation and mutagenesis techniques. Both endogenous and heterologously expressed DFF have an apparent molecular mass of 160-190 kDa and contain 2 CAD and 2 ICAD molecules (CAD/ICAD)2 in HeLa cells. Although the N-terminal (CIDE-N) domain of CAD is not required for ICAD binding, it is necessary but not sufficient for ICAD homodimerization in the DFF. In contrast, the CIDE-N domain of ICAD is required for CAD/ICAD association. Using bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET), dimerization of ICAD in DFF was confirmed in live cells. In apoptotic cells, endogenous and exogenous CAD forms limited oligomers, representing the active nuclease. A model is proposed for the rearrangement of the DFF subunit stoichiometry in cells undergoing programmed cell death.
authors.affiliation: Program in Cell and Lung Biology, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lechardeur
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dougaparsad
authors.forename: Csilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nemes
authors.forename: Gergely L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Lukacs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D019556:COS Cells; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D002845:Chromatography; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D019281:Dimerization; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D016296:Mutagenesis; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D000075223:Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins; D011485:Protein Binding; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D017510:Protein Folding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D000075223:Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; C113696:DFFB protein, human; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases