Journal of Biological Chemistry · 2002 · 538 citations · 20 references
Life SciencesCell BiologyMolecular BiologyApoptosisCell SignalingMitochondrial BiologyApoptosis ModulationApoptosis RegulationApoptotic SignalingBcl-2 Family ProteinsCaspase ActivationDeath ReceptorsApoptotic Cell Death RegulationHomologyInhibitor Of Apoptosis ProteinsMitochondrial Apoptosis PathwaysMitochondrial Apoptotic SignalingMitochondrial Pathway Of ApoptosisPro-apoptotic EffectorsProtein-protein Interactions In Apoptosis
The inhibitor-of-apoptosis proteins (IAPs) play a critical role in the regulation of apoptosis by binding and inhibiting caspases. Reaper family proteins and Smac/DIABLO use a conserved amino-terminal sequence to bind to IAPs in flies and mammals, respectively, blocking their ability to inhibit caspases and thus promoting apoptosis. Here we have identified the serine protease Omi/HtrA2 as a second mammalian XIAP-binding protein with a Reaper-like motif. This protease autoprocesses to form a protein with amino-terminal homology to Smac/DIABLO and Reaper family proteins. Full-length Omi/HtrA2 is localized to mitochondria but fails to interact with XIAP. Mitochondria also contain processed Omi/HtrA2, which, following apoptotic insult, translocates to the cytosol, where it interacts with XIAP. Overexpression of Omi/HtrA2 sensitizes cells to apoptosis, and its removal by RNA interference reduces cell death. Omi/HtrA2 thus extends the set of mammalian proteins with Reaper-like function that are released from the mitochondria during apoptosis.
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