once activated, what does caspase-9 itself activate

by Prof. Samantha Reichert 8 min read

Active caspase-9 works as an initiating caspase by cleaving, thus activating downstream executioner caspases, initiating apoptosis. Once activated, caspase-9 goes on to cleave caspase-3, -6, and -7, initiating the caspase cascade as they cleave several other cellular targets.

It is proposed that the binding of Apaf-1 to the prodomain of caspase-9 allows this conformational change to occur. Once caspase-9 is activated, it cleaves and activates executioner caspase-3 to induce the degradative events of apoptosis.

Full Answer

What is the function of caspase 9?

Once activated, caspase-9 stays associated with the apoptosome as a holoenzyme to maintain its catalytic activity, as caspase-9 in isolation is marginally active (Rodriguez and Lazebnik 1999). The primary target of the caspase-9 holoenzyme is caspase-3, one of the most deleterious effector caspases (Fig. 1 ).

How does procaspase-9 activate apoptosis?

Apr 04, 2017 · Procaspase-9 (Figure (Figure1A), 1A), as the initiator caspase of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway, exists as monomers and possesses a long prodomain, which contains a caspase activation domain (CARD) motif, through which caspase-9 is recruited and activated at a multiprotein platform and then breaks up cells into apoptotic bodies . Owing to its ...

What is the activation of an effector caspase?

These mutants were able to activate downstream caspases, but only in the presence of cytosolic factors. The mutant with both processing sites abolished had 10% of the activity of wild-type, and was able to support apoptosis, with equal vigor to wild-type, when transiently expressed in 293 cells. Thus caspase-9 has an unusually active zymogen that does not require proteolytic …

What happens when caspase-9 is inactive?

Once activated, caspase-9 goes on to cleave caspase-3, -6, and -7, initiating the caspase cascade as they cleave several other cellular targets. When caspase-9 is inactive, it exists in the cytosol as a zymogen, in its monomer form. It is then recruited and activated by the CARDs in apaf-1, recognizing the CARDs in caspase-9.

What can a caspase do when it has been activated?

Activation of caspases ensures that the cellular components are degraded in a controlled manner, carrying out cell death with minimal effect on surrounding tissues. Caspases have other identified roles in programmed cell death such as pyroptosis and necroptosis.

What is the role of caspase-9 in apoptosis?

Caspase-9, a cysteine-aspartic protease known for its role as an initiator of intrinsic apoptosis, regulates physiological cell death and pathological tissue degeneration.Jul 9, 2021

How does caspase-9 work?

Active caspase-9 works as an initiating caspase by cleaving, thus activating downstream executioner caspases, initiating apoptosis. Once activated, caspase-9 goes on to cleave caspase-3, -6, and -7, initiating the caspase cascade as they cleave several other cellular targets.

What is caspase activation pathway?

The extrinsic pathway to caspase activation is initiated through ligation of membrane death receptors, which recruits the cytosolic adapter protein, FADD, and caspase-8, which form the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC).Jun 15, 2009

How does caspase-9 activate caspase-3?

Caspase 3 appears to amplify caspase 8 and caspase 9 initiation signals into full-fledged commitment to disassembly. Caspase 8 and caspase 9 activate caspase 3 by proteolytic cleavage and caspase 3 then cleaves vital cellular proteins or other caspases.

Does cytochrome c activate caspase-9?

Caspase-9 is activated in a cytochrome c-independent manner early during TNFα-induced apoptosis in murine cells | Cell Death & Differentiation.Aug 22, 2003

How do I activate caspase-9?

Caspase-9 is activated by the Apaf-1 apoptosome (6). Apaf-1 contains a caspase recruitment domain (CARD) at its amino terminus, followed by a nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD) and 15 repeats of WD40 at its carboxyl terminus. In homeostatic cells, Apaf-1 exists as an inactive monomer.

Are caspases necessary for necrosis?

Caspases were originally identified as important mediators of inflammatory response and apoptosis. Recent discoveries, however, have unveiled their roles in mediating and suppressing two regulated forms of necrotic cell death, termed pyroptosis and necroptosis, respectively.Dec 15, 2016

Are caspases cytokines?

The caspase-4 and -5, in addition to caspase-1, are regarded as cytokine activators or inflammatory caspases. Although both do not cleave IL-1β as potent as caspase-1, they are thought to be involved in activation of caspase-1.

What activates caspase cascade?

Caspases are a family of cysteine proteases that act in concert in a cascade triggered by apoptosis signaling. The culmination of this cascade is the cleavage of a number of proteins in the cell, followed by cell disassembly, cell death, and, ultimately, the phagocytosis and removal of the cell debris.

How is caspase-7 activated?

Caspase-7 is directly activated by the approximately 700-kDa apoptosome complex and is released as a stable XIAP-caspase-7 approximately 200-kDa complex. J Biol Chem.

Are caspases secreted?

Inflammatory protease, caspase-1, is secreted from monocytes in a stably active form in response to inflammasome activation (INM3P. 441)May 1, 2014