Apoptosis-specific protein (ASP 45 kDa) is distinct from human Apg5, the homologue of the yeast autophagic gene apg5.
Yung HW., Xue L., Tolkovsky AM.
We have examined whether the apoptosis-specific protein p45ASP and human Apg5 are identical proteins. Like p45ASP, myc-hApg5 cross-reacted with a c-Jun antibody and approximately 50% of myc-hApg5 was bound to a Triton X-100-insoluble fraction in HeLa cells. However, soluble myc-hApg5 was degraded during apoptosis induced by staurosporine or TNFalpha/cycloheximide whilst expression of soluble p45ASP was stabilised. Furthermore, myc-hApg5 degradation was blocked by the caspase inhibitor Boc-Asp(OMe)FMK whilst p45ASP expression was eliminated. Moreover, myc-hApg5 ( approximately 32 kDa) never assumed the size of p45ASP (45 kDa). It is therefore likely that p45ASP and human Apg5 are distinct proteins although they do share some common characteristics.