Molecular cloning and functional analysis of the mouse homologue of the KILLER/DR5 tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) death receptor.

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and its receptors are members of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily. TRAIL selectively kills cancer cells but not normal cells. We report here the cloning of the mouse homologue of the TRAIL receptor KILLER/DR5 (MK). The cDNA of MK is 1146 bp in length and encodes a protein of 381 amino acids. MK contains an extracellular cysteine-rich domain, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic death-domain characteristic of Fas, tumor necrosis factor, and human TRAIL receptors. MK is highly homologous and binds TRAIL with similar affinity as human DR4 and KILLER/DR5. MK induces apoptosis in mouse and human cells and inhibits colony growth of NIH3T3 cells. Expression of MK is p53-dependent and up-regulated by tumor suppressor p53 and by DNA damaging agents in mouse cells undergoing apoptosis. This is the first report describing a mouse TRAIL receptor gene and also demonstrating that the p53-dependent regulation of KILLER/DR5-mediated apoptosis is conserved between human and mouse.