The extracellular domains of FasL and Fas are sufficient for the formation of supramolecular FasL-Fas clusters of high stability

J Cell Biol. 2005 Mar 28;168(7):1087-98. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200501048.

Abstract

Using fluorescent variants of Fas and FasL, we show that membrane FasL and Fas form supramolecular clusters that are of flexible shape, but nevertheless stable and persistent. Membrane FasL-induced Fas clusters were formed in caspase-8- or FADD-deficient cells or when a cytoplasmic deletion mutant of Fas was used suggesting that cluster formation is independent of the assembly of the cytoplasmic Fas signaling complex and downstream activated signaling pathways. In contrast, cross-linked soluble FasL failed to aggregate the cytoplasmic deletion mutant of Fas, but still induced aggregation of signaling competent full-length Fas. Moreover, membrane FasL-induced Fas cluster formation occurred in the presence of the lipid raft destabilizing component methyl-beta-cyclodextrin, whereas Fas aggregation by soluble FasL was blocked. Together, these data suggest that the extracellular domains of Fas and FasL alone are sufficient to drive membrane FasL-induced formation of supramolecular Fas-FasL complexes, whereas soluble FasL-induced Fas aggregation is dependent on lipid rafts and mechanisms associated with the intracellular domain of Fas.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Apoptosis / physiology*
  • Caspase 8
  • Caspases / genetics
  • Cytoplasm / metabolism*
  • Extracellular Space / metabolism*
  • Fas Ligand Protein
  • Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Macromolecular Substances / metabolism
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Membrane Microdomains / metabolism*
  • Mutation / physiology
  • Protein Binding / physiology
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary / physiology
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Solubility / drug effects
  • beta-Cyclodextrins / pharmacology
  • fas Receptor / chemistry
  • fas Receptor / genetics
  • fas Receptor / metabolism*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • FADD protein, human
  • FASLG protein, human
  • Fas Ligand Protein
  • Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • beta-Cyclodextrins
  • fas Receptor
  • methyl-beta-cyclodextrin
  • CASP8 protein, human
  • Caspase 8
  • Caspases