MAGUKs, scaffolding proteins at cell junctions, are substrates of different proteases during apoptosis.

ABSTRACT: A major feature of apoptotic cell death is gross structural changes, one of which is the loss of cell-cell contacts. The caspases, executioners of apoptosis, were shown to cleave several proteins involved in the formation of cell junctions. The membrane-associated guanylate kinases (MAGUKs), which are typically associated with cell junctions, have a major role in the organization of protein-protein complexes at plasma membranes and are therefore potentially important caspase targets during apoptosis. We report here that MAGUKs are cleaved and/or degraded by executioner caspases, granzyme B and several cysteine cathepsins in vitro. When apoptosis was induced by UV-irradiation and staurosporine in different epithelial cell lines, caspases were found to efficiently cleave MAGUKs in these cell

SUBMITTER: Ivanova S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3077288 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature