[HTML][HTML] Amplification of apoptosis through sequential caspase cleavage of the MET tyrosine kinase receptor

B Foveau, C Leroy, F Ancot, J Deheuninck… - Cell Death & …, 2007 - nature.com
B Foveau, C Leroy, F Ancot, J Deheuninck, Z Ji, V Fafeur, D Tulasne
Cell Death & Differentiation, 2007nature.com
Activation of the MET tyrosine kinase receptor by hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor is
classically associated with cell survival. Nonetheless, stress stimuli can lead to a caspase-
dependent cleavage of MET within its juxtamembrane region, which generate a proapoptotic
40 kDa fragment (p40 MET). We report here that p40 MET is in fact generated through an
additional caspase cleavage of MET within its extreme C-terminal region, which removes
only few amino acids. We evidenced a hierarchical organization of these cleavages, with the …
Abstract
Activation of the MET tyrosine kinase receptor by hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor is classically associated with cell survival. Nonetheless, stress stimuli can lead to a caspase-dependent cleavage of MET within its juxtamembrane region, which generate a proapoptotic 40 kDa fragment (p40 MET). We report here that p40 MET is in fact generated through an additional caspase cleavage of MET within its extreme C-terminal region, which removes only few amino acids. We evidenced a hierarchical organization of these cleavages, with the C-terminal cleavage favoring the juxtamembrane one. As a functional consequence, the removal of the last amino acids of p40 MET increases its apoptotic capacity. Finally, cells expressing a MET receptor mutated at the C-terminal caspase site are unable to generate p40 MET and are resistant to apoptosis, indicating that generation of p40 MET amplifies apoptosis. These results revealed a two-step caspase cleavage of MET resulting in the reshaping of this survival receptor to a proapoptotic factor.
nature.com