Document Detail


PAC-1 activates procaspase-3 in vitro through relief of zinc-mediated inhibition.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19281821     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The direct induction of apoptosis has emerged as a powerful anticancer strategy, and small molecules that either inhibit or activate certain proteins in the apoptotic pathway have great potential as novel chemotherapeutic agents. Central to apoptosis is the activation of the zymogen procaspase-3 to caspase-3. Caspase-3 is the key "executioner" caspase, catalyzing the hydrolysis of a multitude of protein substrates within the cell. Interestingly, procaspase-3 levels are often elevated in cancer cells, suggesting a compound that directly stimulates the activation of procaspase-3 to caspase-3 could selectively induce apoptosis in cancer cells. We recently reported the discovery of a compound, PAC-1, which enhances procaspase-3 activity in vitro and induces apoptotic death in cancer cells in culture and in mouse xenograft models. Described herein is the mechanism by which PAC-1 activates procaspase-3 in vitro. We show that zinc inhibits the enzymatic activity of procaspase-3 and that PAC-1 strongly activates procaspase-3 in buffers that contain zinc. PAC-1 and zinc form a tight complex with one another, with a dissociation constant of approximately 42 nM. The combined data indicate that PAC-1 activates procaspase-3 in vitro by sequestering inhibitory zinc ions, thus allowing procaspase-3 to autoactivate itself to caspase-3. The small-molecule-mediated activation of procaspases has great therapeutic potential and thus this discovery of the in vitro mechanism of action of PAC-1 is critical to the development and optimization of other procaspase-activating compounds.
Authors:
Quinn P Peterson; David R Goode; Diana C West; Kara N Ramsey; Joy J Y Lee; Paul J Hergenrother
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural     Date:  2009-03-10
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of molecular biology     Volume:  388     ISSN:  1089-8638     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Mol. Biol.     Publication Date:  2009 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-04-07     Completed Date:  2009-05-19     Revised Date:  2011-08-01    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  2985088R     Medline TA:  J Mol Biol     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  144-58     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, Roger Adams Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Caspase 3 / antagonists & inhibitors,  metabolism*
Caspase 7 / antagonists & inhibitors,  metabolism
Cell Line, Tumor
Dual Specificity Phosphatase 2 / metabolism*
Enzyme Precursors / metabolism*
Humans
Zinc / metabolism*
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
1 T32 GM070421/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS; 3F31CA130138-01S1/CA/NCI NIH HHS; R01 CA120439-02/CA/NCI NIH HHS; R01-CA120439/CA/NCI NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Enzyme Precursors; 7440-66-6/Zinc; EC 3.1.3.48/Dual Specificity Phosphatase 2; EC 3.4.22.-/Caspase 3; EC 3.4.22.-/Caspase 7
Comments/Corrections

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