ARTS and Siah collaborate in a pathway for XIAP degradation

ARTS (apoptosis-related protein in the TGF-β signaling pathway) is a mitochondrial protein that binds XIAP (X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein) upon entering the cytosol, thus promoting cell death. Expression of ARTS is lost in some malignancies. Here, we show that ARTS binds to XIAP at BIR1, a domain distinct from the caspase-binding sites. Furthermore, ARTS interacts with the E3 ligase Siah-1 (seven in absentia homolog 1) to induce ubiquitination and degradation of XIAP. Cells lacking either Siah or ARTS contain higher steady-state levels of XIAP. Thus, ARTS serves as an adaptor to bridge Siah-1 to XIAP, targeting it for destruction.