Nuclear localization of DEDD leads to caspase-6 activation through its death effector domain and inhibition of RNA polymerase I dependent transcription.

The death effector domain (DED) is a protein/protein interaction domain only found in proteins that are involved in apoptosis signaling. DEDD is a novel apoptosis signaling molecule that carries an N-terminal DED with complete sequence identity between the murine, rat, bovine and human domains. We previously identified two nuclear localization signals (NLS) responsible for DEDDs nuclear localization when transiently expressed. Using a new anti-DEDD antibody that allows us to stain endogenous DEDD in immunofluorescence microscopy we now detect a significant amount of DEDD in nucleoli of all cells tested. When overexpressed, DEDD localizes to nucleoli-like structures, activates caspase-6 and specifically inhibits RNA polymerase I (Pol I) dependent transcription in vivo as shown by blockage of BrUTP incorporation. The DED in DEDD is sufficient for its DNA binding, caspase-6 activating and Pol I specific transcriptional repressor activity. We have identified a third NLS in DEDD and only mutation of all three NLS generated a protein, DEDD Delta NLS1-3, that mainly localized to the cytoplasm. This protein no longer induced apoptosis, indicating that in contrast to other DED proteins, such as FADD, caspase-8 or c-FLIP, DEDD induces apoptosis from within the nucleus. This effect is abolished when specific point mutations are made within the DED. The DED in DEDD therefore represents a novel domain that is structurally similar to other DEDs but functionally different from classical DEDs found in FADD or caspase-8.

Apoptosis and caspases.

The expedition into the apoptosis signaling pathway, although it has just begun, has resulted in the discovery of a significant number of remarkable signaling molecules at all levels of this novel pathway After the pinnacle of this frenetic cloning effort has been reached, however, it is important to put this pathway and its constituents into a biological and pathophysiological context. It has become clear that cell death does not automatically mean activation of caspases. The recent discovery of a function of effector caspases of the apoptosis pathway outside of apoptosis is currently revolutionizing our view of these seemingly unrelated and rather counteracting processes, cell death and cell proliferation. It appears that caspases play a much more fundamental role in cells than originally expected.

Identification of the cytolinker plectin as a major early in vivo substrate for caspase 8 during CD95- and tumor necrosis factor receptor-mediated apoptosis.

Caspase 8 plays an essential role in the execution of death receptor-mediated apoptosis. To determine the localization of endogenous caspase 8, we used a panel of subunit-specific anti-caspase 8 monoclonal antibodies in confocal immunofluorescence microscopy. In the human breast carcinoma cell line MCF7, caspase 8 predominantly colocalized with and bound to mitochondria. After induction of apoptosis through CD95 or tumor necrosis factor receptor I, active caspase 8 translocated to plectin, a major cross-linking protein of the three main cytoplasmic filament systems, whereas the caspase 8 prodomain remained bound to mitochondria. Plectin was quantitatively cleaved by caspase 8 at Asp 2395 in the center of the molecule in all cells tested. Cleavage of plectin clearly preceded that of other caspase substrates such as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, gelsolin, cytokeratins, or lamin B. In primary fibroblasts from plectin-deficient mice, apoptosis-induced reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, as seen in wild-type cells, was severely impaired, suggesting that during apoptosis, plectin is required for the reorganization of the microfilament system.

DEDD, a novel death effector domain-containing protein, targeted to the nucleolus.

The CD95 signaling pathway comprises proteins that contain one or two death effector domains (DED), such as FADD/Mort1 or caspase-8. Here we describe a novel 37 kDa protein, DEDD, that contains an N-terminal DED. DEDD is highly conserved between human and mouse (98. 7% identity) and is ubiquitously expressed. Overexpression of DEDD in 293T cells induced weak apoptosis, mainly through its DED by which it interacts with FADD and caspase-8. Endogenous DEDD was found in the cytoplasm and translocated into the nucleus upon stimulation of CD95. Immunocytological studies revealed that overexpressed DEDD directly translocated into the nucleus, where it co-localizes in the nucleolus with UBF, a basal factor required for RNA polymerase I transcription. Consistent with its nuclear localization, DEDD contains two nuclear localization signals and the C-terminal part shares sequence homology with histones. Recombinant DEDD binds to both DNA and reconstituted mononucleosomes and inhibits transcription in a reconstituted in vitro system. The results suggest that DEDD is a final target of a chain of events by which the CD95-induced apoptotic signal is transferred into the nucleolus to shut off cellular biosynthetic activities.