PMID: 11257230 , Related PDB id: 1I51

Authors:

Chai J, Shiozaki E, Srinivasula SM, Wu Q, Datta P, Alnemri ES, Shi Y

Title:

Structural basis of caspase-7 inhibition by XIAP.

Journal:

Cell. 2001 Mar 9;104(5):769-80.

Abstract:

The inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins suppress cell death by inhibiting the catalytic activity of caspases. Here we present the crystal structure of caspase-7 in complex with a potent inhibitory fragment from XIAP at 2.45 A resolution. An 18-residue XIAP peptide binds the catalytic groove of caspase-7, making extensive contacts to the residues that are essential for its catalytic activity. Strikingly, despite a reversal of relative orientation, a subset of interactions between caspase-7 and XIAP closely resemble those between caspase-7 and its tetrapeptide inhibitor DEVD-CHO. Our biochemical and structural analyses reveal that the BIR domains are dispensable for the inhibition of caspase-3 and -7. This study provides a structural basis for the design of the next-generation caspase inhibitors.