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Published on: March 5, 2018
Polypeptide modulators of caspase recruitment domain (CARD)-CARD-mediated protein-protein interactions
Yadira Palacios-Rodríguez1, Guillermo García-Laínez, Mónica Sancho
1Laboratory of Peptide and Protein Chemistry, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, E-46012 Valencia, Spain.
Insights
Caspase recruitment domain (CARD) peptides modulate apoptosis and inflammation pathways. This study investigates CARD-derived polypeptides
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- The caspase recruitment domain (CARD) is crucial in protein-protein interactions.
- CARDs are involved in apoptosis (programmed cell death) and inflammation via caspase activation.
- The precise coordination of apoptosis and inflammation by CARDs remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cross-talk between apoptosis and inflammation.
- To analyze the modulatory effects of CARD-derived polypeptides on caspase activation pathways.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of individual recombinant CARDs.
- Design and testing of CARD-derived peptides.
- Utilizing peptides derived from phage display.
Main Results:
- CARD-derived polypeptides exhibit modulatory activity on Apaf-1/procaspase-9 interaction.
- These polypeptides also affect inflammasome-mediated procaspase-1 activation.
- Specific CARDs and peptides differentially regulate these pathways.
Conclusions:
- CARD-derived polypeptides can influence both apoptotic and inflammatory signaling.
- This suggests a potential mechanism for cross-talk coordination between these processes.
- Further research into CARD-peptide interactions could yield therapeutic insights.
Abstract:
The caspase recruitment domain (CARD) is present in a large number of proteins. Initially, the CARD was recognized as part of the caspase activation machinery. CARD-CARD interactions play a role in apoptosis and are responsible for the Apaf-1-mediated activation of procaspase-9 in the apoptosome. CARD-containing proteins mediate the inflammasome-dependent activation of proinflammatory caspase-1. More recently, new roles for CARD-containing proteins have been reported in signaling pathways associated with immune responses. The functional role of CARD-containing proteins and CARDs in coordinating apoptosis and inflammatory and immune responses is not completely understood. We have explored the putative cross-talk between apoptosis and inflammation by analyzing the modulatory activity on both the Apaf-1/procaspase-9 interaction and the inflammasome-mediated procaspase-1 activation of CARD-derived polypeptides. To this end, we analyzed the activity of individual recombinant CARDs, rationally designed CARD-derived peptides, and peptides derived from phage display.
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