Gasdermins gone wild: new roles for GSDMs in regulating cellular homeostasis

Trends Cell Biol. 2023 Sep;33(9):773-787. doi: 10.1016/j.tcb.2023.02.007. Epub 2023 Apr 14.

Abstract

Since their discovery, members of the gasdermin (GSDM) family of proteins have been firmly established as executors of pyroptosis, with the N-terminal fragment of most GSDMs capable of forming pores in the plasma membrane. More recent findings suggest that some GSDMs can drive additional cell death pathways, such as apoptosis and necroptosis, through mechanisms independent of plasma membrane perforation. There is also emerging evidence that by associating with cellular compartments such as mitochondria, peroxisomes, endosomes, and the nucleus, GSDMs regulate cell death-independent aspects of cellular homeostasis. Here, we review the diversity of GSDM function across several cell types and explore how various cellular stresses can promote relocalization - and thus refunctionalization - of GSDMs.

Keywords: ROS; cardiolipin; cell death–independent gasdermin function; mitochondria; oxidative stress; peroxisomes; phospholipids.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis
  • Gasdermins*
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Inflammasomes / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Proteins* / metabolism
  • Pyroptosis / physiology

Substances

  • Gasdermins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Inflammasomes