Bcl-2 regulates amplification of caspase activation by cytochrome c

Sabina C. Cosulich, Peter J. Savory, Paul R. Clarke

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    81 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Caspases, a family of specific proteases, have central roles in apoptosis [1]. Caspase activation in response to diverse apoptotic stimuli involves the relocalization of cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytoplasm where it stimulates the proteolytic processing of caspase precursors. Cytochrome c release is controlled by members of the Bcl-2 family of apoptosis regulators [2,3]. The anti-apoptotic members Bcl-2 and Bcl-x(L) may also control caspase activation independently of cytochrome c relocalization or may inhibit a positive feedback mechanism [4-7]. Here, we investigate the role of Bcl-2 family proteins in the regulation of caspase activation using a model cell-free system. We found that Bcl-2 and Bcl-x(L) set a threshold in the amount of cytochrome c required to activate caspases, even in soluble extracts lacking mitochondria. Addition of dATP (which stimulates the procaspase-processing factor Apaf-1 [8,9]) overcame inhibition of caspase activation by Bcl-2, but did not prevent the control of cytochrome c release from mitochondria by Bcl-2. Cytochrome c release was accelerated by active caspase-3 and this positive feedback was negatively regulated by Bcl-2. These results provide evidence for a mechanism to amplify caspase activation that is suppressed at several distinct steps by Bcl-2, even after cytochrome c is released from mitochondria.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)147-150
    Number of pages4
    JournalCurrent Biology
    Volume9
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 11 Feb 1999

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
    • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

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