A mutational analysis of the baculovirus inhibitor of apoptosis Op-IAP

A family of antiapoptotic regulators known as inhibitors of apoptosis (IAPs) was initially identified and functionally described in baculoviruses, and IAP homologues are now known in insects, birds, and mammals. Baculovirus and Drosophila IAPs inhibit apoptosis induced by Drosophila proapoptotic proteins Reaper, HID, and GRIM and physically interact with them through their baculovirus IAP repeat (BIR) region. Here we examined the functional importance of BIR and RING finger motifs of Orgyia pseudotsugata nuclear polyhedrosis virus Op-IAP and D-IAP1 in binding to and inhibiting HID. In the absence of both the BIR1 and RING motifs, the BIR2 regions of Op-IAP and D- IAP1 were able to associate with HID and block HID-induced apoptosis. Mutation of conserved amino acid residues within the BIR and RING finger motifs revealed that the conserved residues within BIR2 were essential for OpIAP to inhibit apoptosis. However, most of the conserved residues of the BIR2 were not required for HID binding. A region at the carboxy-proximal end of BIR2 was essential for the association of Op-IAP with HID. Thus binding to HID is necessary but not sufficient to block HID-induced apoptosis: the conserved residues within BIR2 must have an additional role in blocking apoptosis. These findings demonstrate that the region encompassing a single BIR of Op-IAP and D-IAPI can be sufficient for physical interaction with and inhibition of apoptosis induced by HID.