A Short Nur77-Derived Peptide Converts Bcl-2 from a Protector to a Killer

Siva Kumar Kolluri, Xiuwen Zhu, Xin Zhou, Bingzhen Lin, Ya Chen, Kai Sun, Xuefei Tian, James Town, Xihua Cao, Feng Lin, Dayong Zhai, Shinichi Kitada, Frederick Luciano, Edmond O'Donnell, Yu Cao, Feng He, Jialing Lin, John C. Reed, Arnold C. Satterthwait, Xiao kun Zhang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

177 Scopus citations

Abstract

Bcl-2 can be converted into a proapoptotic molecule by nuclear receptor Nur77. However, the development of Bcl-2 converters as anticancer therapeutics has not been explored. Here we report the identification of a Nur77-derived Bcl-2-converting peptide with 9 amino acids (NuBCP-9) and its enantiomer, which induce apoptosis of cancer cells in vitro and in animals. The apoptotic effect of NuBCPs and their activation of Bax are not inhibited but rather potentiated by Bcl-2. NuBCP-9 and its enantiomer bind to the Bcl-2 loop, which shares the characteristics of structurally adaptable regions with many cancer-associated and signaling proteins. NuBCP-9s act as molecular switches to dislodge the Bcl-2 BH4 domain, exposing its BH3 domain, which in turn blocks the activity of antiapoptotic Bcl-XL.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)285-298
Number of pages14
JournalCancer Cell
Volume14
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 7 2008

Keywords

  • CELLBIO
  • HUMDISEASE
  • PROTEINS

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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