Caspase-3 inhibits growth in Saccharomyces cerevisiae without causing cell death

Caspase-3, a member of the caspase family of cell death proteases, cleaves cytoplasmic and nuclear substrates and promotes apoptotic cell death in mammalian cells. Although yeast homologs of apoptotic genes have not been identified, some components of apoptotic pathways retain function in yeast. Her...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:FEBS letters 1999-03, Vol.446 (1), p.9-14
Main Authors: Wright, Michael E., Han, David K., Carter, Lauren, Fields, Stanley, Schwartz, Stephen M., Hockenbery, David M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Apoptosis
Apoptosis - genetics
bcl-2-Associated X Protein
Caspase
Caspase 3
Caspases - genetics
Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
Proto-Oncogene Proteins - genetics
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
Saccharomyces cerevisiae - cytology
Saccharomyces cerevisiae - genetics
Saccharomyces cerevisiae - growth & development
Yeast
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Summary:Caspase-3, a member of the caspase family of cell death proteases, cleaves cytoplasmic and nuclear substrates and promotes apoptotic cell death in mammalian cells. Although yeast homologs of apoptotic genes have not been identified, some components of apoptotic pathways retain function in yeast. Here we show that the expression of caspase-3 delays cell growth in Saccharomyces cerevesiae without causing cell death. Mutation of the caspase-3 QACRG active site abolished effects on yeast growth. Co-expression of caspase inhibitors alleviated growth inhibition in yeast as did the tripeptide caspase inhibitor ZVAD-fmk. These results suggest that substrates for caspase-3 are present in S. cerevesiae and may participate in the normal cell growth and division processes.
ISSN:0014-5793
1873-3468
DOI:10.1016/S0014-5793(99)00159-3