Processed caspase-2 can induce mitochondria-mediated apoptosis independently of its enzymatic activity.

The mechanism by which caspase-2 executes apoptosis remains obscure. Recent findings indicate that caspase-2 is activated early in response to DNA-damaging antineoplastic agents and may be important for the engagement of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. We demonstrate here that fully processed caspase-2 stimulates mitochondrial release of cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO, but not apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). This event occurs independently of several Bcl-2 family proteins, including Bax, Bak and Bcl-2, and inactivation experiments reveal that the proteolytic activity of caspase-2 is not required for the effect. Further, functional studies of mitochondria indicate that processed caspase-2 stimulates state 4 respiration and decreases the respiratory control ratio as a result of, in large part, an uncoupling effect. Combined, our data suggest that caspase-2 retains a unique ability to engage directly the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, an effect that requires processing of the zymogen but not the associated catalytic activity.