Evolution of mitochondrial cell death pathway: Proapoptotic role of HtrA2/Omi in Drosophila

Despite the essential role of mitochondria in a variety of mammalian cell death processes, the involvement of mitochondrial pathway in Drosophila cell death has remained unclear. To address this, we cloned and characterized DmHtrA2, a Drosophila homolog of a mitochondrial serine protease HtrA2/Omi. We show that DmHtrA2 normally resides in mitochondria and is up-regulated by UV-irradiation. Upon receipt of apoptotic stimuli, DmHtrA2 is translocated to extramitochondrial compartment; however, unlike its mammalian counterpart, the extramitochondrial DmHtrA2 does not diffuse throughout the cytosol but stays near the mitochondria. RNAi-mediated knock-down of DmHtrA2 in larvae or adult flies results in a resistance to stress stimuli. DmHtrA2 specifically cleaves Drosophila inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein 1 (DIAP1), a cellular caspase inhibitor, and induces cell death both in vitro and in vivo as potent as other fly cell death proteins. Our observations suggest that DmHtrA2 promotes cell death through a cleavage of DIAP1 in the vicinity of mitochondria, which may represent a prototype of mitochondrial cell death pathway in evolution.     

Down-regulation of DIAP1 triggers a novel Drosophila cell death pathway mediated by Dark and DRONC

Members of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family can inhibit caspases and cell death in a variety of insect and vertebrate systems. Drosophila IAP1 (DIAP1) inhibits cell death to facilitate normal embryonic development. Here, using RNA interference, we showed that down-regulation of DIAP1 is sufficient to induce cell death in Drosophila S2 cells. Although this cell death process was accompanied by elevated caspase activity, this activation was not essential for cell death. We found that DIAP1 depletion-induced cell death was strongly suppressed by a reduction in the Drosophila caspase DRONC or the Drosophila apoptotic protease-activating factor-1 (Apaf-1) homolog, Dark. RNA interference studies in Drosophila embryos also demonstrated that the action of Dark is epistatic to that of DIAP1 in this cell death pathway. The cell death caused by down-regulation of DIAP1 was accelerated by overexpression of DRONC and Dark, and a caspase-inactive mutant form of DRONC could functionally substitute the wild-type DRONC in accelerating cell death. These results suggest the existence of a novel mechanism for cell death signaling in Drosophila that is mediated by DRONC and Dark.     

Wallenda regulates JNK-mediated cell death in Drosophila

The c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway plays essential roles in regulating a variety of cellular processes including proliferation, migration and survival. Previous genetic studies in Drosophila have identified numerous cell death regulating genes, providing new insights into the mechanisms for related diseases. Despite the known role of the small GTPase Rac1 in regulating cell death, the downstream components and underlying mechanism remain largely elusive. Here, we show that Rac1 promotes JNK-dependent cell death through Wallenda (Wnd). In addition, we find that Wnd triggers JNK activation and cell death via its kinase domain. Moreover, we show that both MKK4 and Hep are critical for Wnd-induced cell death. Furthermore, Wnd is essential for ectopic Egr- or Rho1-induced JNK activation and cell death. Finally, Wnd is physiologically required for loss of scribble-induced JNK-dependent cell death. Thus, our data suggest that wnd encodes a novel essential cell death regulator in Drosophila.Programmed cell death (PCD) is a fundamental biological process required for normal organ development and tissue homeostasis in multicellular organisms.¹ Disruption of PCD would result in a variety of diseases including neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune disorders and cancers.² Drosophila melanogaster, with its well-established genetic techniques and compact genome size, has been regarded as an excellent model organism to study PCD and its related signaling pathways.^{3, 4} The c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling has been implicated as one of the most important pathways that regulates various fundamental cell behaviors, such as proliferation, migration and cell death.^{5, 6}Rac1 belongs to the Rho family of small GTPase that regulates many aspects of physiological activities ranging from immune response to wound healing and migration.^{7, 8, 9, 10, 11} For instance, Rac1 has been implicated in JNK-mediated dorsal closure via Slpr (Slipper) in fly,⁷ osteoclast differentiation through TAK1-mediated NF-κB signaling¹² and myocyte hypertrophy via Ask1 (apoptotic signal-regulating kinase 1) in mammals.¹³ However, despite the reported role of Rac1 in cell death,¹⁴ its underlying mechanism and downstream components remain largely elusive.Here by using Drosophila compound eye as a model, we found Rac1 expression induces JNK-dependent cell death and identified Wallenda (Wnd), a MAPKKK (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase) member as an essential downstream mediator. Furthermore, we found that Wnd is sufficient to induce JNK-mediated cell death through both Hep and MKK4. Finally, we established Wnd as a general modulator of cell death in Drosophila by showing that it is also required for ectopic Egr or Rho1 and loss of Scribble (Scrib)-induced cell death.     

STRICA, a novel Drosophila melanogaster caspase with an unusual serine/threonine-rich prodomain, interacts with DIAP1 and DIAP2

The recently published genome sequence of Drosophila melanogaster predicts seven caspases in the fly. Five of these caspases have been previously characterised. Here, we describe the Drosophila caspase, STRICA. STRICA is a caspase with a long amino-terminal prodomain that lacks any caspase recruitment domain or death effector domain. Instead, the prodomain of STRICA consists of unique serine/threonine stretches. Low levels of strica expression were detected in embryos, larvae, pupae and adult animals. STRICA is a cytoplasmic protein that, upon overexpression, caused apoptosis in cultured Drosophila SL2 cells that was partially suppressed by DIAP1. Interestingly, unlike other fly caspases, STRICA showed physical association with DIAP2, in cotransfection experiments. These results suggest that STRICA may have a unique cellular function.     

klumpfuss regulates cell death in the Drosophila retina

Programmed cell death (PCD) plays a central role in the sculpting and maturation of developing epithelia. In adult tissue, PCD plays a further role in the prevention of malignancy though removal of damaged cells. Here, we report that mutations in klumpfuss result in an excess of support cells during maturation of the developing Drosophila pupal retina. These ectopic cells are the result of a partial and specific failure of apoptotic death during normal cell fate selection. klumpfuss is required and differentially expressed in the cells that choose the life or death cell fate. We also provide genetic and biochemical evidence that klumpfuss regulates this process through down-regulation of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor/dRas1 signaling pathway. Based on its sequence Klumpfuss is an EGR-class nuclear factor, and our results suggest a mechanism by which mutations in EGR-class factors such as Wilms' Tumor Suppressor-1 may result in oncogenic events such as pediatric kidney tumors.     

Regulation of HAX-1 anti-apoptotic protein by Omi/HtrA2 protease during cell death

Omi/HtrA2 is a nuclear-encoded mitochondrial serine protease that has a pro-apoptotic function in mammalian cells. Upon induction of apoptosis, Omi translocates to the cytoplasm and participates in caspase-dependent apoptosis by binding and degrading inhibitor of apoptosis proteins. Omi can also initiate caspase-independent apoptosis in a process that relies entirely on its ability to function as an active protease. To investigate the mechanism of Omi-induced apoptosis, we set out to isolate novel substrates that are cleaved by this protease. We identified HS1-associated protein X-1 (HAX-1), a mitochondrial anti-apoptotic protein, as a specific Omi interactor that is cleaved by Omi both in vitro and in vivo. HAX-1 degradation follows Omi activation in cells treated with various apoptotic stimuli. Using a specific inhibitor of Omi, HAX-1 degradation is prevented and cell death is reduced. Cleavage of HAX-1 was not observed in a cell line derived from motor neuron degeneration 2 mice that carry a mutated form of Omi that affects its proteolytic activity. Degradation of HAX-1 is an early event in the apoptotic process and occurs while Omi is still confined in the mitochondria. Our results suggest that Omi has a unique pro-apoptotic function in mitochondria that involves removal of the HAX-1 anti-apoptotic protein. This function is distinct from its ability to activate caspase-dependent apoptosis in the cytoplasm by degrading inhibitor of apoptosis proteins.     

The Drosophila caspase DRONC is regulated by DIAP1

We have isolated the recently identified Drosophila caspase DRONC through its interaction with the effector caspase drICE. Ectopic expression of DRONC induces cell death in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, mammalian fibroblasts and the developing Drosophila eye. The caspase inhibitor p35 fails to rescue DRONC-induced cell death in vivo and is not cleaved by DRONC in vitro, making DRONC the first identified p35-resistant caspase. The DRONC pro-domain interacts with Drosphila inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1 (DIAP1), and co-expression of DIAP1 in the developing Drosophila eye completely reverts the eye ablation phenotype induced by pro-DRONC expression. In contrast, DIAP1 fails to rescue eye ablation induced by DRONC lacking the pro-domain, indicating that interaction of DIAP1 with the pro-domain of DRONC is required for suppression of DRONC-mediated cell death. Heterozygosity at the diap1 locus enhances the pro-DRONC eye phenotype, consistent with a role for endogenous DIAP1 in suppression of DRONC activation. Both heterozygosity at the dronc locus and expression of dominant-negative DRONC mutants suppress the eye phenotype caused by reaper (RPR) and head involution defective (HID), consistent with the idea that DRONC functions in the RPR and HID pathway.     

Ubr3 E3 ligase regulates apoptosis by controlling the activity of DIAP1 in Drosophila

Apoptosis has essential roles in a variety of cellular and developmental processes. Although the pathway is well studied, how the activities of individual components in the pathway are regulated is less understood. In Drosophila, a key component in apoptosis is Drosophila inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1 (DIAP1), which is required to prevent caspase activation. Here, we demonstrate that Drosophila CG42593 (ubr3), encoding the homolog of mammalian UBR3, has an essential role in regulating the apoptosis pathway. We show that loss of ubr3 activity causes caspase-dependent apoptosis in Drosophila eye and wing discs. Our genetic epistasis analyses show that the apoptosis induced by loss of ubr3 can be suppressed by loss of initiator caspase Drosophila Nedd2-like caspase (Dronc), or by ectopic expression of the apoptosis inhibitor p35, but cannot be rescued by overexpression of DIAP1. Importantly, we show that the activity of Ubr3 in the apoptosis pathway is not dependent on its Ring-domain, which is required for its E3 ligase activity. Furthermore, we find that through the UBR-box domain, Ubr3 physically interacts with the neo-epitope of DIAP1 that is exposed after caspase-mediated cleavage. This interaction promotes the recruitment and ubiquitination of substrate caspases by DIAP1. Together, our data indicate that Ubr3 interacts with DIAP1 and positively regulates DIAP1 activity, possibly by maintaining its active conformation in the apoptosis pathway.Morphogenesis in multicellular organisms is a process with a balanced control of cell proliferation and cell death. To maintain this homeostasis, superfluous or unwanted cells are usually removed promptly via programmed cell death or apoptosis.^{1, 2} Compelling evidence has shown that dysregulation of apoptosis results in a variety of diseases, such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders and autoimmune diseases.^{3, 4, 5, 6} The apoptotic machinery is conserved from invertebrates to vertebrates. Drosophila has been used as an excellent model to study apoptosis because of its advantages in genetic manipulation. A crucial step in apoptosis is the cascade activation of initiator and effector caspases that eventually causes cell death. Under normal circumstances, the activities of caspases are kept in check by a conserved family of anti-apoptotic proteins termed inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs). The Drosophila genome encodes four IAPs, including Drosophila inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1 (DIAP1), DIAP2, DBruce and Deterin.^{7, 8, 9, 10} Among these four proteins, DIAP1 is stringently required to prevent caspase activation.^{11, 12} Although the requirement of DIAP1 in the apoptosis pathway is well documented, it is unclear how the activity of DIAP1 is regulated during development.The covalent attachment of ubiquitin to proteins is a crucial regulatory mechanism in many developmental and physiological processes.¹³ Ubiquitination is a catalytic cascade involving ubiquitin-activating (E1), ubiquitin-conjugating (E2) and ubiquitin-ligating (E3) enzymes.¹⁴ The E3 proteins that specifically recognize a distinctive set of substrates for ubiquitination are an exceptionally large family.¹⁵ The RING domain of DIAP1 is an E3 ligase that inactivates caspases mainly through ubiquitination.¹⁶ Previous studies have shown that the anti-apoptotic activity of DIAP1 is negatively regulated by three pro-apoptotic proteins called Reaper, head involution defective (Hid) and Grim (RHG).^{2, 17} These proteins negatively regulate DIAP1 function through distinct mechanisms, either by disrupting interactions between DIAP1 and the initiator caspase Drosophila Nedd2-like caspase (Dronc), or by promoting the ubiquitination-dependent degradation of DIAP1.^{18, 19} In addition to regulation by RHG, DIAP1 has been considered a substrate of the N-end rule pathway. Ditzel et al.²⁰ first discovered that DIAP1 can be cleaved by effector caspases at its NH2 terminus, exposing a binding motif for UBR-box-containing E3 ligases and subsequently be degraded by the N-end rule-mediated degradation. Later, Yokokura et al.²¹ reported that the N-end rule pathway does not have a major role in the turnover of N-terminally truncated DIAP1. More recently, Ditzel et al.²² reported that the UBR-binding motif of DIAP1 is essential for its anti-apoptotic function, indicating UBR family proteins regulate apoptosis via ways other than destroying DIAP1. Although these reports highlight the importance of UBR-box-containing E3 ligases in regulating DIAP1, it is currently unknown which UBR family member is involved in apoptosis.The mammalian genome encodes seven evolutionarily conserved members of UBR E3 ligases (UBR1–UBR7).^{23, 24} All of the UBR E3 ligases share a ∼70-amino-acid UBR-box and can function as N-recognins, which are involved in the N-end rule pathway of the ubiquitination system.²⁵ Among them, UBR1, UBR2 and UBR3 are subfamily members containing both a UBR-box and a Ring domain, which is required for its E3 ligase activity.²⁶ Data from mouse models indicate that UBR1 and UBR2 are involved in the regulation of apoptosis in spermatocytes, skeletal muscle and cardiovascular development with partial redundancy.^{27, 28, 29} UBR3 was first characterized in mice as an E3 ligase involved in the regulation of olfactory and other sensory systems.³⁰ Recently, human UBR3 was also found to be required for genome stability by regulating the essential DNA repair protein APE1.³¹ As UBR3 does not bind to the known N-end rule substrates of UBR1 and UBR2,³⁰ it is currently unknown whether UBR3 is involved in the apoptosis pathway. Here, we have generated Drosophila ubr3 mutant and characterized its role in development. Our data suggest that Ubr3 is involved in the apoptosis pathway by regulating the activity of DIAP1 during development.     

TOR-mediated autophagy regulates cell death in Drosophila neurodegenerative disease

Target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling is a regulator of cell growth. TOR activity can also enhance cell death, and the TOR inhibitor rapamycin protects cells against proapoptotic stimuli. Autophagy, which can protect against cell death, is negatively regulated by TOR, and disruption of autophagy by mutation of Atg5 or Atg7 can lead to neurodegeneration. However, the implied functional connection between TOR signaling, autophagy, and cell death or degeneration has not been rigorously tested. Using the Drosophila melanogaster visual system, we show in this study that hyperactivation of TOR leads to photoreceptor cell death in an age- and light-dependent manner and that this is because of TOR''s ability to suppress autophagy. We also find that genetically inhibiting TOR or inducing autophagy suppresses cell death in Drosophila models of Huntington''s disease and phospholipase C (norpA)–mediated retinal degeneration. Thus, our data indicate that TOR induces cell death by suppressing autophagy and provide direct genetic evidence that autophagy alleviates cell death in several common types of neurodegenerative disease.     

Tumor suppressor CYLD regulates JNK-induced cell death in Drosophila

CYLD encodes a tumor suppressor that is mutated in familial cylindromatosis. Despite biochemical and cell culture studies, the physiological functions of CYLD in animal development and tumorigenesis remain poorly understood. To address these questions, we generated Drosophila CYLD (dCYLD) mutant and transgenic flies expressing wild-type and mutant dCYLD proteins. Here we show that dCYLD is essential for JNK-dependent oxidative stress resistance and normal lifespan. Furthermore, dCYLD regulates TNF-induced JNK activation and cell death through dTRAF2, which acts downstream of the TNF receptor Wengen and upstream of the JNKK kinase dTAK1. We show that dCYLD encodes a deubiquitinating enzyme that deubiquitinates dTRAF2 and prevents dTRAF2 from ubiquitin-mediated proteolytic degradation. These data provide a molecular mechanism for the tumor suppressor function of this evolutionary conserved molecule by indicating that dCYLD plays a critical role in modulating TNF-JNK-mediated cell death.     

Arabidopsis DAL1 and DAL2, two RING finger proteins homologous to Drosophila DIAP1, are involved in regulation of programmed cell death

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a precise, genetically controlled cellular process with important roles in plant growth, development, and response to biotic and abiotic stress. However, the genetic mechanisms that control PCD in plants are unclear. Two Arabidopsis genes, DAL1 and DAL2 (for Drosophila DIAP1 like 1 and 2), encoding RING finger proteins with homology to DIAP1 were identified, and a series of experiments were performed to elucidate their roles in the regulation of PCD and disease resistance. Expression of DAL1 and DAL2 genes was induced in Arabidopsis plants after inoculation with virulent and avirulent strains of Pseudomonas syrinage pv. tomato (Pst) DC3000 or after infiltration with fumonisin B1 (FB1). Plants with mutations in the DAL1 and DAL2 genes displayed more severe disease after inoculation with an avirulent strain of Pst DC3000, but they showed similar disease severity as the wild-type plant after inoculation with a virulent strain of Pst DC3000. Significant accumulations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increased cell death were observed in the dal1 and dal2 mutant plants after inoculation with the avirulent strain of Pst DC3000. The dal mutant plants underwent extensive PCD upon infiltration of FB1 and displayed higher levels of ROS accumulation, callose deposition, and autofluorescence than the wild-type plants. Our data suggest that DAL1 and DAL2 may act as negative regulators of PCD in Arabidopsis.     

BEX2与INI1/hSNF5蛋白的相互作用及其在细胞周期中的功能鉴定

BEX2(Brain expressed X-linked protein 2)分子量约为13 kDa,高表达于人的脑和睾丸中。据报道,该蛋白在胚胎发育中表达量变化巨大,提示该蛋白可能在胚胎发育中具有重要作用,但迄今为止,其功能知之甚少。文章应用酵母双杂交系统,以BEX2为"诱饵"蛋白,筛选发现INI1/hSNF5是BEX2的一个结合蛋白。INI1/hSNF5是SWI/SNF染色质重塑复合体的核心组分,是"表观遗传"分子机制中的重要成员。文章通过体外GST Pull-down实验验证,BEX2与INI1/hSNF5之间的相互作是直接并且特异的。通过进一步的缺失突变分析,表明INI1/hSNF5的两个保守的反向重复序列是BEX2的结合区域。该区域是SNF5与多种蛋白相互作用的结构平台。亚细胞定位分析显示BEX2与INI1/hSNF5都主要集中分布于细胞核,这表明二者之间的相互作用可能参与基因表达调控的过程。文章进一步对此相互作用的功能进行了探讨,发现BEX2通过与INI1/hSNF5的相互作用从而影响细胞周期。     

The C-terminal tail of presenilin regulates Omi/HtrA2 protease activity

Presenilin mutations are responsible for most cases of autosomal dominant inherited forms of early onset Alzheimer disease. Presenilins play an important role in amyloid beta-precursor processing, NOTCH receptor signaling, and apoptosis. However, the molecular mechanisms by which presenilins regulate apoptosis are not fully understood. Here, we report that presenilin-1 (PS1) regulates the proteolytic activity of the serine protease Omi/HtrA2 through direct interaction with its regulatory PDZ domain. We show that a peptide corresponding to the cytoplasmic C-terminal tail of PS1 dramatically increases the proteolytic activity of Omi/HtrA2 toward the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins and beta-casein and induces cell death in an Omi/HtrA2-dependent manner. Consistent with these results, ectopic expression of full-length PS1, but not PS1 lacking the C-terminal PDZ binding motif, potentiated Omi/HtrA2-induced cell death. Our results suggest that the C terminus of PS1 is an activation peptide ligand for the PDZ domain of Omi/HtrA2 and may regulate the protease activity of Omi/HtrA2 after its release from the mitochondria during apoptosis. This mechanism of Omi/HtrA2 activation is similar to the mechanism of activation of the related bacterial DegS protease by the outer-membrane porins.     

The deubiquitinating enzyme DUBAI stabilizes DIAP1 to suppress Drosophila apoptosis

Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) counteract ubiquitin ligases to modulate the ubiquitination and stability of target signaling molecules. In Drosophila, the ubiquitin–proteasome system has a key role in the regulation of apoptosis, most notably, by controlling the abundance of the central apoptotic regulator DIAP1. Although the mechanism underlying DIAP1 ubiquitination has been extensively studied, the precise role of DUB(s) in controlling DIAP1 activity has not been fully investigated. Here we report the identification of a DIAP1-directed DUB using two complementary approaches. First, a panel of putative Drosophila DUBs was expressed in S2 cells to determine whether DIAP1 could be stabilized, despite treatment with death-inducing stimuli that would induce DIAP1 degradation. In addition, RNAi fly lines were used to detect modifiers of DIAP1 antagonist-induced cell death in the developing eye. Together, these approaches identified a previously uncharacterized protein encoded by CG8830, which we named DeUBiquitinating-Apoptotic-Inhibitor (DUBAI), as a novel DUB capable of preserving DIAP1 to dampen Drosophila apoptosis. DUBAI interacts with DIAP1 in S2 cells, and the putative active site of its DUB domain (C367) is required to rescue DIAP1 levels following apoptotic stimuli. DUBAI, therefore, represents a novel locus of apoptotic regulation in Drosophila, antagonizing cell death signals that would otherwise result in DIAP1 degradation.     

Jafrac2 is an IAP antagonist that promotes cell death by liberating Dronc from DIAP1

Members of the Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein (IAP) family are essential for cell survival in Drosophila and appear to neutralize the cell death machinery by binding to and ubiquitylating pro-apoptotic caspases. Cell death is triggered when "Reaper-like" proteins bind to IAPs and liberate caspases from IAPs. We have identified the thioredoxin peroxidase Jafrac2 as an IAP-interacting protein in Drosophila cells that harbours a conserved N-terminal IAP-binding motif. In healthy cells, Jafrac2 resides in the endoplasmic reticulum but is rapidly released into the cytosol following induction of apoptosis. Mature Jafrac2 interacts genetically and biochemically with DIAP1 and promotes cell death in tissue culture cells and the Drosophila developing eye. In common with Rpr, Jafrac2-mediated cell death is contingent on DIAP1 binding because mutations that abolish the Jafrac2-DIAP1 interaction suppress the eye phenotype caused by Jafrac2 expression. We show that Jafrac2 displaces Dronc from DIAP1 by competing with Dronc for the binding of DIAP1, consistent with the idea that Jafrac2 triggers cell death by liberating Dronc from DIAP1-mediated inhibition.     

Specific protein interaction of human Pag with Omi/HtrA2 and the activation of the protease activity of Omi/HtrA2

The human PAG gene product (hPag), one member of the TSA/AhpC family, is overexpressed by oxidative stress, which causes apoptosis. To investigate the apoptotic signal transduction mediated by hPag, hPag-binding protein was screened using the yeast two-hybrid system. Omi/HtrA2 was identified as the hPag-binding protein. Omi/HtrA2, a potent proapoptotic factor, is released from the mitochondria into the cytoplasm as the mature form showing serine protease activity during apoptosis in response to oxidative stress. We found that hPag was able to interact with the mature form of Omi/HtrA2, not with the precursor form of Omi/HtrA2. The binding of Omi/HtrA2 to hPag was shown to involve the PDZ-binding domain in Omi/HtrA2. Also, the carboxyl-terminal domain of hPag was shown to be critical for the protein interaction. Using the yeast two-hybrid system and in vitro binding assay, the reduced form of hPag was able to interact with Omi/HtrA2. Interestingly, the protease activity given by the mature form of Omi/HtrA2 was significantly activated by the binding to hPag. Taken together, these results suggest that the specific protein interaction may participate as a molecular switch in modulating cell death in response to oxidative stress.     

The serine protease HtrA2 cleaves UCH-L1 and inhibits its hydrolase activity: implication in the UCH-L1-mediated cell death

Ubiquitin (Ub) carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) has dual functions, such as hydrolase activity on the chemical bonds formed by the C-terminal Gly of Ub and dimerization-dependent ubiquitin ligase activity. Accumulating evidence suggests that dual activities of UCH-L1 were intimately associated with Parkinson’s diseases (PD) and cancer. However, the molecular mechanism that regulates UCH-L1 enzymatic activity has not yet been fully elucidated. The serine protease high temperature requirement A2 (HtrA2), a PD-associated gene, is important in regulating cell survival as well as apoptosis. Using in vitro and in vivo cleavage assays, we have demonstrated that UCH-L1 is a natural substrate for the serine protease HtrA2 in the apoptotic pathway. Notably, we show that released, cytosolic HtrA2 decreases UCH-L1 protein level and its hydrolase activity through HtrA2-mediated cleavage of UCH-L1 under apoptotic conditions. These findings suggest that the HtrA2-mediated cleavage of UCH-L1 may play important roles in regulating the fine balance between cell growth and cell death.