Display Settings:

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

    Mol Cell. 1998 Mar;1(4):553-63.

    Cleavage of p21Cip1/Waf1 and p27Kip1 mediates apoptosis in endothelial cells through activation of Cdk2: role of a caspase cascade.

    Levkau B, Koyama H, Raines EW, Clurman BE, Herren B, Orth K, Roberts JM, Ross R.

    Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195-7470, USA.

    Apoptosis of human endothelial cells after growth factor deprivation is associated with rapid and dramatic up-regulation of cyclin A-associated cyclin-dependent kinase 2(cdk2) activity. In apoptotic cells, the C termini of the cdk inhibitors p21Cip1/Waf1 and p27Kip1 are truncated by specific cleavage. The enzyme involved in this cleavage is CPP32 and/or a CPP32-like caspase. After cleavage, p21Cip1/Waf1 loses its nuclear localization sequence and exits the nucleus. Cleavage of p21Cip1/Waf1 and p27Kip1 results in a substantial reduction in their association with nuclear cyclin-cdk2 complexes, leading to a dramatic induction of cdk2 activity. Dominant-negative cdk2, as well as a mutant of p21Cip1/Waf1 resistant to caspase cleavage, partially suppress apoptosis. These data suggest that cdk2 activation, through caspase-mediated cleavage of cdk inhibitors, may be instrumental in the execution of apoptosis following caspase activation.

    PMID: 9660939 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

    Publication Types, MeSH Terms, Substances, Grant Support

    Supplemental Content

    Click here to read Click here to read Click here to read Click here to read Click here to read