Bcl-2 regulates a caspase-3/caspase-2 apoptotic cascade in cytosolic extracts

Apoptosis is accompanied by the activation of a number of apoptotic proteases (caspases) which selectively cleave specific cellular substrates. Caspases themselves are zymogens which are activated by proteolysis. It is widely believed that 'initiator' caspases are recruited to and activated within apoptotic signalling complexes, and then cleave and activate downstream 'effector' caspases. While activation of the effector caspase, caspase-3, has indeed been observed as distal to activation of several different initiator caspases, evidence for a further downstream proteolytic cascade is limited. In particular, there is little evidence that cellular levels of caspase-3 that are activated via one pathway are sufficient to cleave and activate other initiator caspases. To address this issue, the ability of caspase-3, activated upon addition to cytosolic extracts of cytochrome c, to cause cleavage of caspase-2 was investigated. It was demonstrated that cleavage of caspase-2 follows, and is dependent upon, activation of caspase-3. Moreover, the activation of both caspases was inhibited by Bcl-2. Together, these data indicate that Bcl-2 can protect cells from apoptosis by acting at a point downstream from release of mitochondrial cytochrome c, thereby preventing a caspase-3 dependent proteolytic cascade.