A caspase-2-RFXANK interaction and its implication for MHC class II expression

Cell Death Dis. 2018 Jan 23;9(2):80. doi: 10.1038/s41419-017-0144-y.

Abstract

Despite recent achievements implicating caspase-2 in tumor suppression, the enzyme stands out from the apoptotic caspase family as a factor whose function requires further clarification. To specify enzyme characteristics through the definition of interacting proteins in apoptotic or non-apoptotic settings, a yeast 2-hybrid (Y2H) screen was performed using the full-length protein as bait. The current report describes the analysis of a captured prey and putative novel caspase-2 interacting factor, the regulatory factor X-associated ankyrin-containing protein (RFXANK), previously associated with CIITA, the transactivator regulating cell-type specificity and inducibility of MHC class II gene expression. The interaction between caspase-2 and RFXANK was verified by co-immunoprecipitations using both exogenous and endogenous proteins, where the latter approach suggested that binding of the components occurs in the cytoplasm. Cellular co-localization was confirmed by transfection of fluorescently conjugated proteins. Enhanced caspase-2 processing in RFXANK-overexpressing HEK293T cells treated with chemotherapeutic agents further supported Y2H data. Yet, no distinct differences with respect to MHC class II expression were observed in plasma membranes of antigen-presenting cells derived from wild type and caspase-2-/- mice. In contrast, increased levels of the total MHC class II protein was evident in protein lysates from caspase-2 RNAi-silenced leukemia cell lines and B-cells isolated from gene-targeted mice. Together, these data identify a novel caspase-2-interacting factor, RFXANK, and indicate a potential non-apoptotic role for the enzyme in the control of MHC class II gene regulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Cells / metabolism
  • Caspase 2 / metabolism*
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology
  • Fluorouracil / pharmacology
  • HCT116 Cells
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Protein Binding
  • Proteolysis
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • RFXANK protein, human
  • Transcription Factors
  • Doxorubicin
  • Caspase 2
  • Fluorouracil