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Updated: May 7, 2026

Measuring Composition of CD95 Death-Inducing Signaling Complex and Processing of Procaspase-8 in this Complex
Published on: August 2, 2021
RIP: a novel protein containing a death domain that interacts with Fas/APO-1 (CD95) in yeast and causes cell death
B Z Stanger1, P Leder, T H Lee
1Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Abstract:
Ligation of the extracellular domain of the cell surface receptor Fas/APO-1 (CD95) elicits a characteristic programmed death response in susceptible cells. Using a genetic selection based on protein-protein interaction in yeast, we have identified two gene products that associate with the intracellular domain of Fas: Fas itself, and a novel 74 kDa protein we have named RIP, for receptor interacting protein. RIP also interacts weakly with the p55 tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR1) intracellular domain, but not with a mutant version of Fas corresponding to the murine lprcg mutation. RIP contains an N-terminal region with homology to protein kinases and a C-terminal region containing a cytoplasmic motif (death domain) present in the Fas and TNFR1 intracellular domains. Transient overexpression of RIP causes transfected cells to undergo the morphological changes characteristic of apoptosis. Taken together, these properties indicate that RIP is a novel form of apoptosis-inducing protein.
Insights
Researchers identified a novel protein, receptor interacting protein (RIP), that interacts with the Fas receptor and induces programmed cell death (apoptosis). This discovery sheds light on the molecular mechanisms of cell death signaling pathways.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Fas/APO-1 (CD95) receptor ligation triggers programmed cell death.
- Understanding the intracellular signaling pathways of Fas is crucial for cell death research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify proteins interacting with the intracellular domain of the Fas receptor.
- To characterize the function and properties of novel Fas-interacting proteins.
Main Methods:
- Yeast two-hybrid system for protein-protein interaction screening.
- Co-immunoprecipitation and Western blotting to confirm interactions.
- Transient transfection and morphological analysis to assess apoptosis induction.
Main Results:
- Identified a novel 74 kDa protein, receptor interacting protein (RIP), that binds to the Fas intracellular domain.
- RIP also interacts with tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) and contains a death domain.
- Overexpression of RIP induces apoptosis in transfected cells.
Conclusions:
- RIP is a novel protein that mediates Fas-induced apoptosis.
- RIP plays a significant role in programmed cell death pathways.
- RIP represents a new class of apoptosis-inducing proteins.
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