The Apaf-1 apoptosome induces formation of caspase-9 homo- and heterodimers with distinct activities

Chu-Chiao Wu; Sunhee Lee; Srinivas Malladi; Miao-Der Chen; Nicholas J. Mastrandrea; Zhiwen Zhang; Shawn B. Bratton

doi:10.1038/ncomms13565

Nature Communications (Nov 2016)

The Apaf-1 apoptosome induces formation of caspase-9 homo- and heterodimers with distinct activities

Chu-Chiao Wu,
Sunhee Lee,
Srinivas Malladi,
Miao-Der Chen,
Nicholas J. Mastrandrea,
Zhiwen Zhang,
Shawn B. Bratton

Affiliations

Chu-Chiao Wu: Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Sunhee Lee: Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Srinivas Malladi: Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin
Miao-Der Chen: Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Nicholas J. Mastrandrea: Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Zhiwen Zhang: Bioengineering Department, Santa Clara University
Shawn B. Bratton: Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms13565
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 14

Abstract

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Apoptotic initiator caspases are thought to be activated through homodimerization but this remains controversial. Here the authors demonstrate that caspase-9 can adopt two distinct conformations within the Apaf-1 apoptosome, each with distinct properties that contribute to the overall function of the complex.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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