The CED-3/ICE-like protease Mch2 is activated during apoptosis and cleaves the death substrate lamin A

J Biol Chem. 1996 Jul 12;271(28):16443-6.

Abstract

Phylogenetic analysis of the CED-3/ICE family of cysteine proteases suggests the existence of a subfamily most related to the Caenorhabditis elegans death gene ced-3 and includes Yama (CPP32, apopain), LAP3 (Mch3, CMH1), and Mch2. Here, we show that Mch2 is processed from its zymogen form to a proteolytically active dimeric species during execution of the apoptotic program and by the cytotoxic T cell death protease granzyme B. Additionally, like Yama and LAP3, Mch2 functions downstream of the death inhibitors Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and CrmA. Importantly, Mch2, but not Yama or LAP3, is capable of cleaving lamin A to its signature apoptotic fragment, indicating that Mch2 is an apoptotic laminase.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Alkaloids / pharmacology
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Apoptosis*
  • Caspase 6
  • Cell Line
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Humans
  • Hydrolysis
  • Lamin Type A
  • Lamins
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Staurosporine
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • Alkaloids
  • Lamin Type A
  • Lamins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • CASP6 protein, human
  • Caspase 6
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • Staurosporine