%0 Journal Article
%@ 1469-3178
%A Kumar, Akhilesh
%A Tikoo, Shweta
%A Maity, Shuvadeep
%A Sengupta, Shantanu
%A Sengupta, Sagar
%A Kaur, Amandeep
%A Kumar Bachhawat, Anand
%D 2012
%F open:1217
%I Nature publishing group
%J EMBO reports
%K apoptosis; ChaC1; γ-glutamyl cyclotransferases       
%N 12
%P 1095-101
%T Mammalian proapoptotic factor ChaC1 and its homologues function as γ-glutamyl cyclotransferases acting specifically on glutathione.
%U http://crdd.osdd.net/open/1217/
%V 13
%X ChaC1 is a mammalian proapoptic protein of unknown function induced during endoplasmic reticulum stress. We show using in vivo studies and novel in vitro assays that the ChaC family of proteins function as γ-glutamyl cyclotransferases acting specifically to degrade glutathione but not other γ-glutamyl peptides. The overexpression of these proteins (but not the catalytically dead E>Q mutants) led to glutathione depletion and enhanced apoptosis in yeast. The ChaC family is conversed across all phyla and represents a new pathway for glutathione degradation in living cells, and the first cytosolic pathway for glutathione degradation in mammalian cells.
%Z Copyright of this article belongs to NPG.