title: Molecular mechanism of L-DNase II activation and function as a molecular switch in apoptosis.
abstract: The discovery of caspase activation counts as one of the most important finds in the biochemistry of apoptosis. However, targeted disruption of caspases does not impair every type of apoptosis. Other proteases can replace caspases and several so called "caspase independent" pathways are now described. Here we review our current knowledge on one of these pathways, the LEI/L-DNase II. It is a serine protease-dependent pathway and its key event is the transformation of LEI (leukocyte elastase inhibitor, a serine protease inhibitor) into L-DNase II (an endonuclease). The molecular events leading to this change of enzymatic function as well as the cross-talk and interactions of this molecule with other apoptotic pathway, including caspases, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherches des Cordeliers, INSERM, U872, Paris F-75006, France. alicia.torriglia@idf.inserm.fr
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torriglia
authors.forename: Chloé
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leprêtre
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Padrón-Barthe
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chahory
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martin