Synthesis of novel caspase inhibitors for characterization of the active caspase proteome in vitro and in vivo

Alexander J. Henzing, Helen Dodson, Joel M. Reid, Scott H. Kaufmann, Robert L. Baxter, William C. Earnshaw

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Caspases are cysteine proteases that are essential for cytokine maturation and apoptosis. To facilitate the dissection of caspase function in vitro and in vivo, we have synthesized irreversible caspase inhibitors with biotin attached via linker arms of various lengths (12a-d) and a 2,4-dinitrophenyl labeled inhibitor (13). Affinity labeling of apoptotic extracts followed by blotting reveals that these affinity probes detect active caspases. Using the strong affinity of avidin for biotin, we have isolated affinity-labeled caspase 6 from apoptotic cytosolic extracts of cells overexpressing procaspase 6 by treatment with 12c, which contains biotin attached to the Nε-lysine of the inhibitor by a 22.5 Å linker arm, followed by affinity purification on monomeric avidin-sepharose beads. Compound 13 has proven sufficiently cell permeable to rescue cells from apoptotic execution. These novel caspase inhibitors should provide powerful probes for the study of the active caspase proteome during apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)7636-7645
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry
Volume49
Issue number26
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 28 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Drug Discovery

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