Molecular determinants of the caspase-promoting activity of Smac/DIABLO and its role in the death receptor pathway

J Biol Chem. 2000 Nov 17;275(46):36152-7. doi: 10.1074/jbc.C000533200.

Abstract

Smac/DIABLO is a mitochondrial protein that is released along with cytochrome c during apoptosis and promotes cytochrome c-dependent caspase activation by neutralizing inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs). We provide evidence that Smac/DIABLO functions at the levels of both the Apaf-1-caspase-9 apoptosome and effector caspases. The N terminus of Smac/DIABLO is absolutely required for its ability to interact with the baculovirus IAP repeat (BIR3) of XIAP and to promote cytochrome c-dependent caspase activation. However, it is less critical for its ability to interact with BIR1/BIR2 of XIAP and to promote the activity of the effector caspases. Consistent with the ability of Smac/DIABLO to function at the level of the effector caspases, expression of a cytosolic Smac/DIABLO in Type II cells allowed TRAIL to bypass Bcl-xL inhibition of death receptor-induced apoptosis. Combined, these data suggest that Smac/DIABLO plays a critical role in neutralizing IAP inhibition of the effector caspases in the death receptor pathway of Type II cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Apoptosis* / drug effects
  • Bacterial Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Bacterial Proteins / pharmacology
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Caspase Inhibitors
  • Caspases / metabolism*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cytosol / chemistry
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Humans
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
  • Insect Proteins*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Mitochondrial Proteins*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Isoforms / chemistry
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Proteins / chemistry
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction* / drug effects
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
  • X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein
  • bcl-X Protein

Substances

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • BCL2L1 protein, human
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Caspase Inhibitors
  • DIABLO protein, human
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
  • Insect Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
  • TNFSF10 protein, human
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein
  • XIAP protein, human
  • bcl-X Protein
  • Caspases

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF298770