The BIR domain of IAP-like protein 2 is conformationally unstable: implications for caspase inhibition.

ABSTRACT: Several IAP (inhibitor of apoptosis) proteins regulate cell fate decisions, and the X-linked IAP (XIAP) does so in part by inhibiting caspases, proteases that execute the apoptotic pathway. A tissue-specific homologue of XIAP, known as ILP2 (IAP-like protein 2), has previously been implicated in the control of apoptosis in the testis by direct inhibition of caspase 9. In examining this protein we found that the putative caspase 9 interaction domain is a surprisingly weak inhibitor and is also conformationally unstable. Comparison with the equivalent domain in XIAP demonstrated that the instability is due to the lack of a linker segment N-terminal to the inhibitory BIR (baculovirus IAP repeat) domain. Fusion of a 9-residue linker from XIAP to the N-terminus of ILP2 restored tight caspase 9

SUBMITTER: Shin H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1134667 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature