TRUNDD, A NEW MEMBER OF THE TRAIL RECEPTOR FAMILY THAT ANTAGONIZES TRAIL SIGNALING

TRAIL/Apo-2L induces rapid apoptosis of a variety of tumor cell lines. A family of tumor necrosis factor receptor-related molecules have bee n identified as receptors for TRAIL. Herein, we report the identificat ion of another member of the TRAIL receptor family, TRUNDD (TRAIL rece ptor with a truncated death domain). The TRUNDD transcript was detecte d in multiple human tissues. TRUNDD is highly homologous to all known TRAIL receptors and has an extracellular TRAIL-binding domain but lack s a functional intracellular death domain and does not induce apoptosi s. Consistent with an inhibitory role, ectopic expression of TRUNDD at tenuated TRAIL-induced apoptosis in mammalian cells. (C) 1998 Federati on of European Biochemical Societies.