title: Vitamin K2 covalently binds to Bak and induces Bak-mediated apoptosis.
abstract: Vitamin K2 (VK2, menaquinone) is known to have anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo. Although its effect is thought to be mediated, at least in part, by the induction of apoptosis, the underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. Here, we identified Bcl-2 antagonist killer 1 (Bak) as a molecular target of VK2-induced apoptosis. VK2 directly interacts with Bak and induces mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. Although Bak and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), another member of the Bcl-2 family, are generally thought to be functionally redundant, only Bak is necessary and sufficient for VK2-induced cytochrome c (cyt c) release and cell death. Moreover, VK2-2,3 epoxide, an intracellular metabolite of VK2, was shown to covalently bind to the cysteine-166 residue of Bak. Several lines of evidence suggested that the covalent attachment of VK2 is critical for apoptosis induction. Thus this study reveals a specific role for Bak in mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. This study also provides insight into the anticancer effects of VK2 and suggests that Bak may be a potential target of cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Information, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karasawa
authors.forename: Motoki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kasama
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kabe
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyazawa
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Handa
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003545:Cysteine / Q000378:metabolism; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D024482:Vitamin K 2 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C494772:BAK1 protein, human; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D024482:Vitamin K 2; D045304:Cytochromes c; D003545:Cysteine