The endogenous caspase-8 inhibitor c-FLIPL regulates ER morphology and crosstalk with mitochondria

Cell Death Differ. 2015 Jul;22(7):1131-43. doi: 10.1038/cdd.2014.197. Epub 2014 Dec 12.

Abstract

Components of the death receptor-mediated pathways like caspase-8 have been identified in complexes at intracellular membranes to spatially restrict the processing of local targets. In this study, we report that the long isoform of the cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP(L)), a well-known inhibitor of the extrinsic cell death initiator caspase-8, localizes at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs). ER morphology was disrupted and ER Ca(2+)-release as well as ER-mitochondria tethering was decreased in c-FLIP(-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Mechanistically, c-FLIP ablation resulted in enhanced basal caspase-8 activation and in caspase-mediated processing of the ER-shaping protein reticulon-4 (RTN4) that was corrected by re-introduction of c-FLIP(L) and caspase inhibition, resulting in the recovery of a normal ER morphology and ER-mitochondria juxtaposition. Thus, the caspase-8 inhibitor c-FLIP(L) emerges as a component of the MAMs signaling platforms, where caspases appear to regulate ER morphology and ER-mitochondria crosstalk by impinging on ER-shaping proteins like the RTN4.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein / metabolism*
  • Caspase 8 / metabolism*
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / metabolism*
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / ultrastructure
  • Mice
  • Mitochondria / metabolism*
  • Myelin Proteins
  • Nogo Proteins
  • Signal Transduction*

Substances

  • CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein
  • Cflar protein, mouse
  • Myelin Proteins
  • Nogo Proteins
  • Rtn4 protein, mouse
  • Casp8 protein, mouse
  • Caspase 8