3ITN

Crystal structure of Pseudo-activated Procaspase-3

Experimental Data Snapshot

  • Method: X-RAY DIFFRACTION
  • Resolution: 1.63 Å
  • R-Value Free: 0.224 
  • R-Value Work: 0.199 
  • R-Value Observed: 0.199 

wwPDB Validation   3D Report Full Report


This is version 1.2 of the entry. See complete history. 


Literature

A constitutively active and uninhibitable caspase-3 zymogen efficiently induces apoptosis.

Walters, J., Pop, C., Scott, F.L., Drag, M., Swartz, P., Mattos, C., Salvesen, G.S., Clark, A.C.

(2009) Biochem J 424: 335-345

  • DOI: 10.1042/BJ20090825
  • Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
    3ITN

  • PubMed Abstract: 

    • The caspase-3 zymogen has essentially zero activity until it is cleaved by initiator caspases during apoptosis. However, a mutation of V266E in the dimer interface activates the protease in the absence of chain cleavage. We show that low concentrations of the pseudo-activated procaspase-3 kill mammalian cells rapidly and, importantly, this protein is not cleaved nor is it inhibited efficiently by the endogenous regulator XIAP (X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis) ...

    The caspase-3 zymogen has essentially zero activity until it is cleaved by initiator caspases during apoptosis. However, a mutation of V266E in the dimer interface activates the protease in the absence of chain cleavage. We show that low concentrations of the pseudo-activated procaspase-3 kill mammalian cells rapidly and, importantly, this protein is not cleaved nor is it inhibited efficiently by the endogenous regulator XIAP (X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis). The 1.63 A (1 A = 0.1 nm) structure of the variant demonstrates that the mutation is accommodated at the dimer interface to generate an enzyme with substantially the same activity and specificity as wild-type caspase-3. Structural modelling predicts that the interface mutation prevents the intersubunit linker from binding in the dimer interface, allowing the active sites to form in the procaspase in the absence of cleavage. The direct activation of procaspase-3 through a conformational switch rather than by chain cleavage may lead to novel therapeutic strategies for inducing cell death.

    Organizational Affiliation: 

    Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.



Macromolecules
Find similar proteins by: 
(by identity cutoff)  |  Structure
Entity ID: 1
MoleculeChainsSequence LengthOrganismDetailsImage
Caspase-3 A250Homo sapiensMutation(s): 0 
Gene Names: CASP3, CPP32
EC: 3.4.22.56
Find proteins for P42574 (Homo sapiens)
Explore P42574 
Go to UniProtKB:  P42574
NIH Common Fund Data Resources
PHAROS:  P42574
GTEx:  ENSG00000164305
Protein Feature View
Expand
  • Reference Sequence
  • Find similar proteins by:  Sequence   |   Structure
Entity ID: 2
MoleculeChainsSequence LengthOrganismDetailsImage
ACETYL-ASP-GLU-VAL-ASP-CHLOROMETHYL KETONE inhibitor B6N/AMutation(s): 0 
Protein Feature View
Expand
  • Reference Sequence
Biologically Interesting Molecules (External Reference) 1 Unique
Entity ID: 2
IDChainsNameType/Class2D Diagram3D Interactions
PRD_000238
Query on PRD_000238		BAc-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-CMKPeptide-like /  Inhibitor

--

Experimental Data & Validation

Experimental Data

  • Method: X-RAY DIFFRACTION
  • Resolution: 1.63 Å
  • R-Value Free: 0.224 
  • R-Value Work: 0.199 
  • R-Value Observed: 0.199 
  • Space Group: I 2 2 2
Unit Cell:
Length ( Å )Angle ( ˚ )
a = 69.224α = 90
b = 84.607β = 90
c = 96.171γ = 90
Software Package:
Software NamePurpose
HKL-2000data collection
CNSrefinement
DENZOdata reduction
SCALEPACKdata scaling
CNSphasing

Structure Validation

View Full Validation Report


View more in-depth experimental data

Entry History 

Deposition Data

Revision History  (Full details and data files)

  • Version 1.0: 2010-03-02
    Type: Initial release
  • Version 1.1: 2011-07-13
    Changes: Version format compliance
  • Version 1.2: 2012-12-12
    Changes: Other