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Caspase 9 activation by the dsRNA‐dependent protein kinase, PKR: molecular mechanism and relevance
Author(s) -
Gil Jesús,
Garcı́a Maria Angel,
Esteban Mariano
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(02)03348-3
Subject(s) - protein kinase r , fadd , apoptosis , microbiology and biotechnology , eif 2 kinase , nlrp1 , caspase 8 , caspase 3 , cytochrome c , caspase , caspase 10 , biology , protein kinase a , caspase 2 , kinase , chemistry , programmed cell death , mitochondrion , mitogen activated protein kinase kinase , biochemistry , cyclin dependent kinase 2
The double‐stranded RNA‐dependent protein kinase (PKR) induces apoptosis by activation of the FADD/caspase 8 pathway. Here we show that upon PKR expression, caspase 9 is processed and activated, correlating with the translocation of cytochrome c to the cytoplasm and breakdown of mitochondrial potential upon Bax insertion. However, treatment of cells with an inhibitor of caspase 9 could not prevent PKR‐induced apoptosis. During PKR‐induced apoptosis, caspase 9 is activated downstream of caspase 8. Our findings revealed that caspase 9, although dispensable, is a mediator of PKR‐induced cell death.