The Drosophila melanogaster Gene cg4930 Encodes a High Affinity Inhibitor for Endonuclease GS

Endonuclease G (EndoG) is a mitochondrial enzyme believed to be released during apoptosis to participate in the degradation of nuclear DNA. This paper describes a Drosophila protein, EndoGI, which inhibits EndoG specifically. EndoG and EndoGI associate with subpicomolar affinity, forming a 2:1 compl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of biological chemistry 2009-03, Vol.284 (13), p.8337-8348
Main Authors: Temme, Claudia, Weissbach, Rebekka, Lilie, Hauke, Wilson, Clive, Meinhart, Anton, Meyer, Sylke, Golbik, Ralph, Schierhorn, Angelika, Wahle, Elmar
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Molecular Basis of Cell and Developmental Biology
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Summary:Endonuclease G (EndoG) is a mitochondrial enzyme believed to be released during apoptosis to participate in the degradation of nuclear DNA. This paper describes a Drosophila protein, EndoGI, which inhibits EndoG specifically. EndoG and EndoGI associate with subpicomolar affinity, forming a 2:1 complex in which dimeric EndoG is bound by two tandemly repeated homologous domains of monomeric EndoGI. Binding appears to involve the active site of EndoG. EndoGI is present in the cell nucleus at micromolar concentrations. Upon induction of apoptosis, levels of the inhibitor appear to be reduced, and it is relocalized to the cytoplasm. EndoGI, encoded by the predicted open reading frame cg4930 , is expressed throughout Drosophila development. Flies homozygous for a hypomorphic EndoGI mutation have a strongly reduced viability, which is modulated by genetic background and diet. We propose that EndoGI protects the cell against low levels of EndoG outside mitochondria.
ISSN:0021-9258
1083-351X
DOI:10.1074/jbc.M808319200