Screening of a novel octamer peptide, CNSCWSKD, that induces caspase-dependent cell death

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is known to induce apoptosis to various tumor cells but not in normal cells. We have screened cell death-inducing peptides from the extracellular domain sequence of TRAIL, using a peptide array. Peptides of higher activity were found through amino acid substitution, and the CNSCWSKD peptide induced >90% cell death in treated Jurkat cells. Features of apoptosis, such as DNA fragmentation, activation of caspase, phosphatidylserine externalization, chromatin condensation, and competition with TRAIL for binding to the death receptor (DR) 4 or DR5 were observed, suggesting that this peptide is a TRAIL mimic. Caspase-3 activation was observed in various tumor cells treated with this peptide as well as with TRAIL, while no activation was observed in human normal fibroblasts. The CNSCWSKD peptide is a potential candidate for use in cancer therapy.