Identification of a novel exon encoding the amino-terminus of the predominant caspase-5 variants.
Caspase-5 is a caspase-1-like protease with pro-apoptotic and pro-inflammatory activities. Here we have identified a novel exon at the 5'-end of the human caspase-5 gene. This novel exon was present in six alternatively spliced caspase-5 mRNA variants expressed in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and encoded the previously unknown amino-terminus of caspase-5. The genomic region upstream of this exon contained sequence elements homologous to those of the caspase-11 promoter in the mouse, and transcription of caspase-5 was upregulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in a caspase-11-like manner in human PBMC in vivo. Taken together, our findings call for a revision of the structure of caspase-5 at the genomic level as well as at the mRNA and protein levels.
Eckhart
Leopold
L
Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
Kittel
Christian
C
Gawlas
Sonja
S
Gruber
Florian
F
Mildner
Michael
M
Jilma
Bernd
B
Tschachler
Erwin
E
D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D020169:Caspases / Q000235:genetics*; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000737:chemistry; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry; D015854:Up-Regulation
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C099217:CASP5 protein, human; D020169:Caspases