Death-associated protein 5 (DAP5) (also named p97 and NAT1) is a member of the translation initiation factor 4G (eIF4G) family that lacks the eIF4E binding site. It was previously implicated in apoptosis, based on the finding that a dominant negative fragment of the protein protected against cell death. Here we address its function and two distinct levels of regulation during apoptosis that affect the protein both at translational and posttranslational levels. DAP5 protein was found to be cleaved at a single caspase cleavage site at position 790, in response to activated Fas or p53, yielding a C-terminal truncated protein of 86 kDa that is capable of generating complexes with eIF4A and eIF3. Interestingly, while the overall translation rate in apoptotic cells was reduced by 60 to 70%, in accordance with the simultaneous degradation of the two major mediators of cap-dependent translation, eIF4GI and eIF4GII, the translation rate of DAP5 protein was selectively maintained. An internal ribosome entry site (IRES) element capable of directing the translation of a reporter gene when subcloned into a bicistronic vector was identified in the 5 untranslated region of DAP5 mRNA. While cap-dependent translation from this transfected vector was reduced during Fas-induced apoptosis, the translation via the DAP5 IRES was selectively maintained. Addition of recombinant DAP5/p97 or DAP5/p86 to cell-free systems enhanced preferentially the translation through the DAP5 IRES, whereas neutralization of the endogenous DAP5 in reticulocyte lysates by adding a dominant negative DAP5 fragment interfered with this translation. The DAP5/p86 apoptotic form was more potent than DAP5/p97 in these functional assays. Altogether, the data suggest that DAP5 is a caspase-activated translation factor which mediates cap-independent translation at least from its own IRES, thus generating a positive feedback loop responsible for the continuous translation of DAP5 during apoptosis.Programmed cell death (PCD) is a fundamental cellular process that provides an intrinsic self-elimination mechanism for the removal of unwanted cells in a wide variety of biological systems. PCD is critical for organ development, tissue remodeling, cellular homeostasis, and elimination of abnormal and damaged cells. However, improper execution of PCD can be quite hazardous and is associated with pathologies including AIDS, neurodegenerative disorders, autoimmune diseases, and others. Altogether, the execution of apoptosis must be tightly regulated. This is achieved by a stringent requirement for an apoptotic trigger on the one hand and protection from inappropriate activation of the cell death program in cells intended to survive on the other hand. The latter mechanism is especially important given that ample proapoptotic proteins are present in normally growing cells, regardless of the presence of an apoptotic trigger.Death-associated protein 5 (DAP5) (also named p97 and NAT1), a 97-kDa protein homologous to eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4GI (eIF4GI), was isolat...

When unfolded proteins accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the unfolded protein response is activated. This ER stress response restores ER homeostasis by coordinating processes that decrease translation, degrade misfolded proteins, and increase the levels of ER-resident chaperones. Ribonuclease inositol-requiring protein-1 (IRE-1), an endoribonuclease that mediates unconventional splicing, and its target, the XBP-1 transcription factor, are key mediators of the unfolded protein response. In this study, we show that in Caenorhabditis elegans insulin/IGF-1 pathway mutants, IRE-1 and XBP-1 promote lifespan extension and enhance resistance to ER stress. We show that these effects are not achieved simply by increasing the level of spliced xbp-1 mRNA and expression of XBP-1's normal target genes. Instead, in insulin/IGF-1 pathway mutants, XBP-1 collaborates with DAF-16, a FOXO-transcription factor that is activated in these mutants, to enhance ER stress resistance and to activate new genes that promote longevity.aging | daf-2 | insulin signaling | unfolded protein response

In Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster, the aging of the soma is influenced by the germline. When germline-stem cells are removed, aging slows and lifespan is increased. The mechanism by which somatic tissues respond to loss of the germline is not well-understood. Surprisingly, we have found that a predicted transcription elongation factor, TCER-1, plays a key role in this process. TCER-1 is required for loss of the germ cells to increase C. elegans' lifespan, and it acts as a regulatory switch in the pathway. When the germ cells are removed, the levels of TCER-1 rise in somatic tissues. This increase is sufficient to trigger key downstream events, as overexpression of tcer-1 extends the lifespan of normal animals that have an intact reproductive system. Our findings suggest that TCER-1 extends lifespan by promoting the expression of a set of genes regulated by the conserved, life-extending transcription factor DAF-16/FOXO. Interestingly, TCER-1 is not required for DAF-16/FOXO to extend lifespan in animals with reduced insulin/IGF-1 signaling. Thus, TCER-1 specifically links the activity of a broadly deployed transcription factor, DAF-16/FOXO, to longevity signals from reproductive tissues.

Apoptosis is characterized by a translation switch from capdependent to internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-mediated protein translation. During apoptosis, several members of the eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF)4G family are cleaved specifically by caspases. Here we investigated which of the caspase-cleaved eIF4G family members could support cap-independent translation through IRES elements that retain activity in the dying cell. We focused on two major fragments arising from the cleavage of eIF4GI and deathassociated protein 5 (DAP5) proteins (eIF4GI M-FAG͞p76 and DAP5͞ p86, respectively), because they are the only potential candidates to preserve the minimal scaffold function needed to mediate translation. Transfection-based experiments in cell cultures indicated that expression of DAP5͞p86 in cells stimulated protein translation from the IRESs of c-Myc, Apaf-1, DAP5, and XIAP. In contrast, these IRESs were refractory to the ectopically expressed eIF4GI M-FAG͞p76. Furthermore, our study provides in vivo evidence that the caspase-mediated removal of the C-terminal tail of DAP5͞p97 relieves an inhibitory effect on the protein's ability to support cap-independent translation through the DAP5 IRES. Altogether, the data suggest that DAP5 is a caspase-activated translation factor that mediates translation through a repertoire of IRES elements, supporting the translation of apoptosis-related proteins.

DAP5 is an eIF4G protein previously implicated in mediating cap-independent translation in response to cellular stresses. Here we report that DAP5 is crucial for continuous cell survival in nonstressed cells. The knockdown of endogenous DAP5 induced M phase-specific caspase-dependent apoptosis. Bcl-2 and CDK1 were identified by two independent screens as DAP5 translation targets. Notably, the activity of the Bcl-2 IRES was reduced in DAP5 knockdown cells and a selective shift of Bcl-2 mRNA toward light polysomal fractions was detected. Furthermore, a functional IRES was identified in the 5'UTR of CDK1. At the cellular level, attenuated translation of CDK1 by DAP5 knockdown decreased the phosphorylation of its M phase substrates. Ectopic expression of Bcl-2 or CDK1 proteins partially reduced the extent of caspase activation caused by DAP5 knockdown. Thus, DAP5 is necessary for maintaining cell survival during mitosis by promoting cap-independent translation of at least two prosurvival proteins.