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Updated: Jul 10, 2025

Characterization of MLKL-mediated Plasma Membrane Rupture in Necroptosis
Published on: August 7, 2018
MLKL polymerization-induced lysosomal membrane permeabilization promotes necroptosis
Shuzhen Liu1, Preston Perez2, Xue Sun1,3
1Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
Mixed lineage kinase-like protein (MLKL) polymerization triggers cell death by causing lysosomal membrane permeabilization. This releases cathepsin B (CTSB), a key enzyme driving necroptosis.
Area of Science:
- Cellular biology
- Molecular mechanisms of cell death
Background:
- Mixed lineage kinase-like protein (MLKL) polymerizes to drive necroptosis.
- The precise mechanism by which MLKL polymerization induces cell death remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanism by which MLKL polymerization triggers necroptosis.
- To identify the role of lysosomes and cathepsins in MLKL-mediated cell death.
Main Methods:
- Tracking activated MLKL translocation during necroptosis.
- Investigating the effects of MLKL polymerization on lysosomal integrity.
- Assessing the contribution of Cathepsin B (CTSB) to cell death using chemical inhibition and knockdown.
Main Results:
- Activated MLKL translocates to the lysosomal membrane, inducing clustering, fusion, and permeabilization.
- Lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) releases cathepsins, with CTSB being crucial for cell death.
- Inhibition or knockdown of CTSB significantly protects cells from necroptosis.
- MLKL N-terminal domain (NTD) polymerization also induces LMP and CTSB release.
Conclusions:
- MLKL polymerization induces cell death via lysosomal membrane permeabilization (MPI-LMP).
- Cathepsin B is a critical effector of necroptosis downstream of MLKL-induced LMP.
- This study clarifies a key molecular pathway in necroptosis execution.
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