Edited by: Paul Smaglik
H. Duan, A.M. Chinnaiyan, P.L. Hudson, J.P. Wing, W. He, V.M. Dixit, "ICE-LAP3, a novel mammalian homologue of the Caenorhabditis elegans cell death protein ced-3, is activated during Fas- and tumor necrosis factor-induced apoptosis," Journal of Biological Chemistry, 271:1621-5, 1996. (Cited in more than 125 publications since its publication in January 1996)Comments by Vishva M. Dixit, Director of Molecular Oncology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, Calif.
THE EXECUTIONER UNCLOAKED: Genentech's Vishva Dixit identified ICE-LAP3 as the death effector, then used an antibody to pinpoint its location. Scientists searching for a mammalian genetic trigger for apoptosis turned to a worm for hints. Genetic analysis of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans revealed three genes that regulate cell death-ced-3, ced-4, and ced-9. Both ced-3 and ced-4 encode proteins required for somatic cell death in the nematode (H.M. Ellis, H.R. Horowitz, Cell, 44:817-29, 1986). Scientists then found a mammalian protein similar ...
