David G. Breckenridge

Caspase cleavage product of BAP31 induces mitochondrial fission through endoplasmic reticulum calcium signals, enhancing cytochrome c release to the cytosol

Stimulation of cell surface death receptors activates caspase-8, which targets a limited number of substrates including BAP31, an integral membrane protein of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Recently, we reported that a caspase-resistant BAP31 mutant inhibited several features of Fas-induced apoptosis, including the release of cytochrome c (cyt.c) from mitochondria (Nguyen, M., D.G. Breckenridge, A. Ducret, and G.C. Shore. 2000. Mol. Cell. Biol. 20:6731–6740), implicating ER-mitochondria crosstalk in this pathway. Here, we report that the p20 caspase cleavage fragment of BAP31 can direct pro-apoptotic signals between the ER and mitochondria. Adenoviral expression of p20 caused an early release of Ca2+ from the ER, concomitant uptake of Ca2+ into mitochondria, and mitochondrial recruitment of Drp1, a dynamin-related protein that mediates scission of the outer mitochondrial membrane, resulting in dramatic fragmentation and fission of the mitochondrial network. Inhibition of Drp1 or ER-mitochondrial Ca2+ signaling prevented p20-induced fission of mitochondria. p20 strongly sensitized mitochondria to caspase-8–induced cyt.c release, whereas prolonged expression of p20 on its own ultimately induced caspase activation and apoptosis through the mitochondrial apoptosome stress pathway. Therefore, caspase-8 cleavage of BAP31 at the ER stimulates Ca2+-dependent mitochondrial fission, enhancing the release of cyt.c in response to this initiator caspase.

The procaspase-8 isoform, procaspase-8L, recruited to the BAP31 complex at the endoplasmic reticulum

BAP31 is an integral protein of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane and a substrate of caspase-8. Here, we describe the procaspase-8 isoform, procaspase-8L, which is ubiquitously expressed and selectively recruited to the BAP31 complex in response to apoptotic signaling by E1A. Procaspase-8L is characterized by the N-terminal extension (Nex) domain, which extends procaspase-8/a at the N terminus and is required for selective association of procaspase-8L with the BAP31 complex. Gene deletion identified BAP31 and related BAP29 as required for processing of procaspase-8L in response to E1A, by a FADD-independent mechanism that was blocked by BCL-2. Further, Bap29,31 deletion, as well as a Nex-domain dominant-negative mutant, curtailed the activation of downstream caspases (IETDase and DEVDase) and cell death in response to E1A. Preferential recruitment of procaspase-8L by the BAP31 complex at the endoplasmic reticulum suggests an additional pathway for regulating initiator caspase-8 during apoptosis.

Caspase-resistant BAP31 inhibits fas-mediated apoptotic membrane fragmentation and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria.

ABSTRACT BAP31 is a 28-kDa integral membrane protein of the endoplasmic reticulum whose cytosolic domain contains two identical caspase recognition sites (AAVD.G) that are preferentially cleaved by initiator caspases, including caspase 8. Cleavage of BAP31 during apoptosis generates a p20 fragment that remains integrated in the membrane and, when expressed ectopically, is a potent inducer of cell death. To examine the consequences of maintaining the structural integrity of BAP31 during apoptosis, the caspase recognition aspartate residues were mutated to alanine residues, and Fas-mediated activation of caspase 8 and cell death were examined in human KB epithelial cells stably expressing the caspase-resistant mutant crBAP31. crBAP31 only modestly slowed the time course for activation of caspases, as assayed by the processing of procaspases 8 and 3 and the measurement of total DEVDase activity. As a result, cleavage of the caspase targets poly(ADP-ribosyl) polymerase and endogenous BAP31, as well as the redistribution of phosphatidylserine and fragmentation of DNA, was observed. In contrast, cytoplasmic membrane blebbing and fragmentation and apoptotic redistribution of actin were strongly inhibited, cell morphology was retained near normal, and the irreversible loss of cell growth potential following removal of the Fas stimulus was delayed. Of note, crBAP31-expressing cells also resisted Fas-mediated release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, and the mitochondrial electrochemical potential was only partly reduced. These results argue that BAP31 cleavage is important for manifesting cytoplasmic apoptotic events associated with membrane fragmentation and reveal an unexpected cross talk between mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum during Fas-mediated apoptosis in vivo.

Loss of TRIM33 causes resistance to BET bromodomain inhibitors through MYC- and TGF-β–dependent mechanisms

Significance Inhibitors of bromodomain and extraterminal domain family proteins (BETi) have generated considerable excitement and are in clinical trials for treatment of several cancers. Cancers treated with targeted therapies eventually become resistant, yet molecular mechanisms underlying resistance to BETi are poorly understood. To discover novel molecular mechanisms mediating resistance to BETi, we performed a shRNA-based genetic screen. We found that loss of tripartite motif-containing protein 33 (TRIM33), a chromatin-associated E3 ubiquitin ligase, confers resistance to BETi. TRIM33 loss diminished BETi-mediated reduction in MYC expression and enhanced TGF-β signaling. Notably, inhibition of TGF-β signaling increased sensitivity of cells to the antiproliferative effects of BETi. In particular, a TGF-β receptor inhibitor potentiated growth suppression by BETi, suggesting a clinically viable strategy for combination therapy. Bromodomain and extraterminal domain protein inhibitors (BETi) hold great promise as a novel class of cancer therapeutics. Because acquired resistance typically limits durable responses to targeted therapies, it is important to understand mechanisms by which tumor cells adapt to BETi. Here, through pooled shRNA screening of colorectal cancer cells, we identified tripartite motif-containing protein 33 (TRIM33) as a factor promoting sensitivity to BETi. We demonstrate that loss of TRIM33 reprograms cancer cells to a more resistant state through at least two mechanisms. TRIM33 silencing attenuates down-regulation of MYC in response to BETi. Moreover, loss of TRIM33 enhances TGF-β receptor expression and signaling, and blocking TGF-β receptor activity potentiates the antiproliferative effect of BETi. These results describe a mechanism for BETi resistance and suggest that combining inhibition of TGF-β signaling with BET bromodomain inhibition may offer new therapeutic benefits.