Detection and measurement of paracaspase MALT1 activity

Methods Mol Biol. 2014:1133:177-88. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-0357-3_11.

Abstract

The paracaspase MALT1 is a Cys-dependent, Arg-specific protease that plays an essential role in the activation and proliferation of lymphocytes during the immune response. Oncogenic activation of MALT1 is associated with the development of specific forms of B-cell lymphomas. Through specific cleavage of its substrates, MALT1 controls various aspects of lymphocyte activation, including the activation of transcriptional pathways, the stabilization of mRNAs, and an increase in cellular adhesion. In lymphocytes, the activity of MALT1 is tightly controlled by its inducible monoubiquitination, which promotes the dimerization of MALT1. Here, we describe both in vitro and in vivo assays that have been developed to assess MALT1 activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Caspases / biosynthesis
  • Caspases / genetics*
  • Caspases / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Lymphocyte Activation / genetics
  • Lymphocytes / enzymology
  • Molecular Biology / methods*
  • Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma Translocation 1 Protein
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / isolation & purification*
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • NF-kappa B
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Caspases
  • MALT1 protein, human
  • Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma Translocation 1 Protein