Analysis of the N-terminal region of human MLKL, as well as two distinct MLKL isoforms, reveals new insights into necroptotic cell death
Details
Publication Year 2016-01-22,Volume 36,Issue #1,Page e00291
Journal Title
Biosci Rep
Publication Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The pseudokinase mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) is an essential effector of necroptotic cell death. Two distinct human MLKL isoforms have previously been reported, but their capacities to trigger cell death have not been compared directly. Herein, we examine these two MLKL isoforms, and further probe the features of the human MLKL N-terminal domain that are required for cell death. Expression in HEK293T cells of the N-terminal 201 amino acids (aa) of human MLKL is sufficient to cause cell death, whereas expression of the first 154 aa is not. Given that aa 1-125 are able to initiate necroptosis, our findings indicate that the helix that follows this region restrains necroptotic activity, which is again restored in longer constructs. Furthermore, MLKL isoform 2 (MLKL2), which lacks much of the regulatory pseudokinase domain, is a much more potent inducer of cell death than MLKL isoform 1 (MLKL1) in ectopic expression studies in HEK293T cells. Modelling predicts that a C-terminal helix constrains the activity of MLKL1, but not MLKL2. Although both isoforms are expressed by human monocyte-derived macrophages at the mRNA level, MLKL2 is expressed at much lower levels. We propose that it may have a regulatory role in controlling macrophage survival, either in the steady state or in response to specific stimuli.
Publisher
Portland Press
Research Division(s)
Cell Signalling And Cell Death
PubMed ID
26704887
Open Access at Publisher's Site
http://www.bioscirep.org/content/36/1/e00291.long
NHMRC Grants
NHMRC/1057905
Terms of Use/Rights Notice
Refer to copyright notice on published article.


Creation Date: 2016-06-15 08:51:08
Last Modified: 2016-10-19 08:57:37
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