Cell Death Inducing DFFA Like Effector A (CIDEA)

CIDEA encodes the homolog of the mouse protein Cidea that has been shown to activate apoptosis. This activation of apoptosis is inhibited by the DNA fragmentation factor DFF45 but not by caspase inhibitors. Mice that lack functional Cidea have higher metabolic rates, higher lipolysis in brown adipose tissue and higher core body temperatures when subjected to cold. These mice are also resistant to diet-induced obesity and diabetes. This suggests that in mice this gene product plays a role in thermogenesis and lipolysis. Two alternative transcripts encoding different isoforms have been identified.Mutant analysis revealed that the C-terminal region of CIDEA was necessary and sufficient for killing, whereas the region with homology to DFF45 located in the N terminus was required for DFF45 to inhibit CIDEA-induced apoptosis.