Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 21, 2025

Characterization of MLKL-mediated Plasma Membrane Rupture in Necroptosis
Published on: August 7, 2018
Targeting RIPK3 oligomerization blocks necroptosis without inducing apoptosis
Wenjuan Li1,2, Hengxiao Ni1,2, Shaofeng Wu1,2,3
1School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) inhibition can treat diseases, but may cause apoptosis. PP2, a RIPK3 inhibitor, blocks necroptosis without inducing apoptosis by disrupting RIPK3 oligomerization.
Area of Science:
- Cellular biology
- Molecular mechanisms of cell death
- Drug discovery
Background:
- Receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) is crucial in necroptosis, a programmed cell death pathway implicated in diseases like Crohn's disease.
- Targeting RIPK3 kinase activity is a therapeutic strategy, but can paradoxically trigger apoptosis.
- Developing safe and effective RIPK3 inhibitors is essential for treating necroptosis-associated pathologies.
Discussion:
- PP2, a SRC inhibitor, effectively inhibits TNF-α-induced necroptosis without inducing apoptosis.
- PP2 functions as a dual inhibitor of SRC and RIPK3.
- PP2 disrupts RIPK3 oligomerization, a key step in necroptosis signaling, without affecting RIPK1-RIPK3-MLKL complex integrity or RIPK3 autophosphorylation.
Key Insights:
- RIPK3 oligomerization is essential for downstream MLKL phosphorylation and activation during necroptosis.
- PP2's mechanism involves inhibiting RIPK3 oligomerization rather than its kinase activity.
- This study reveals a novel therapeutic strategy targeting RIPK3 oligomerization.
Outlook:
- Targeting RIPK3 oligomerization offers a promising therapeutic avenue for necroptosis-associated diseases.
- Further research into PP2 and similar compounds could lead to new treatments with improved safety profiles.
- Understanding RIPK3 oligomerization dynamics is critical for advancing necroptosis-targeted therapies.
More Related Videos
09:15Tyramide Signal Amplification for the Immunofluorescent Staining of ZBP1-Dependent Phosphorylation of RIPK3 and MLKL After HSV-1 Infection in Human Cells
Published on: October 20, 2022
08:15Generation of a RIP1 Knockout U937 Cell Line Using the CRISPR-Cas9 System
Published on: April 11, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Necrosis
Morphological Manifestations of Necrosis
Necrotic cells show different types of morphological appearance depending on the type of tissue and infection. In coagulative necrosis, cells become...
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
Overview of Cell Death
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the...
Regulation of the Unfolded Protein Response
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway