Apoptosis
- Phosphorylation of XIAP at threonine 180 controls its activity in Wnt signaling
Summary: Threonine 180 is a critical site on XIAP that directs the activity of XIAP in Wnt signaling, but not apoptosis, allowing for the possibility of designing Wnt-specific therapeutics that target this site.
- Expansion of DUB functionality generated by alternative isoforms – USP35, a case study
Highlighted Article: An analysis of USP35 shows that alternative isoforms can substantially contribute to expanding the functionality of deubiquitylating enzymes, hence allowing them to regulate multiple intracellular ubiquitylation events.
- The resurrection of the PIDDosome – emerging roles in the DNA-damage response and centrosome surveillance
Summary: Discussion of the biology of the PIDDosome multiprotein complex and of recent advances that link PIDDosome-dependent CASP2 activation to p53 activation in response to extra centrosomes.
- Regulation of Cx37 channel and growth-suppressive properties by phosphorylation
Summary: Connexin 37 may serve as a molecular switch that contributes to cell fate decisions, between cell cycle arrest, cell cycle progression and cell death, in a phosphorylation- and channel-dependent manner.
- L-leucyl-L-leucine methyl ester does not release cysteine cathepsins to the cytosol but inactivates them in transiently permeabilized lysosomes
Summary: L-leucyl-L-leucine methyl ester (LLOMe) permeabilizes lysosomal membranes and destabilizes lysosomal enzymes. LLOMe-induced apoptosis is independent of cysteine cathepsin proteolytic activities in the cytosol.
- A mutation in keratin 18 that causes caspase-digestion resistance protects homozygous transgenic mice from hepatic apoptosis and injury
Summary: K18 that is resistant to caspase digestion helps to maintain keratin filament organization and delays apoptosis, thereby protecting liver from injury.
- The cell adhesion molecule CHL1 interacts with patched-1 to regulate apoptosis during postnatal cerebellar development
Summary: The adhesion molecule close homolog of L1 (CHL1) is a novel ligand of the hedgehog receptor patched-1. The CHL1–patched-1 interaction promotes survival of cerebellar granule cells during postnatal mouse development.
- Caspase-9 has a nonapoptotic function in Xenopus embryonic primitive blood formation
Summary: Fluorescent transgenic reporter constructs detecting caspase activity were designed and integrated in Xenopus embryos, revealing an unexpected nonapoptotic function for the initiator caspase-9 in primitive blood formation.
- Phosphorylation of XIAP by CDK1–cyclin-B1 controls mitotic cell death
Summary: Phosphorylation of XIAP by CDK1–cyclin-B1 controls the onset of mitotic cell death, which is important for surveillance against defects in mitosis and the response to cancer drugs that target cell division.
- Mortalin-mediated and ERK-controlled targeting of HIF-1α to mitochondria confers resistance to apoptosis under hypoxia
Summary: An unconventional anti-apoptotic function of HIF-1α during hypoxia involves ERK-regulated association of its C-terminal domain with outer mitochondrial membrane proteins.