Caspase activation, inhibition, and reactivation: a mechanistic view |
| |
Authors: | Shi Yigong |
| |
Institution: | Department of Molecular Biology, Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA. yshi@molbio.princeton.edu |
| |
Abstract: | Caspases, a unique family of cysteine proteases, execute programmed cell death (apoptosis). Caspases exist as inactive zymogens in cells and undergo a cascade of catalytic activation at the onset of apoptosis. The activated caspases are subject to inhibition by the inhibitor-of-apoptosis (IAP) family of proteins. This inhibition can be effectively removed by diverse proteins that share an IAP-binding tetrapeptide motif. Recent structural and biochemical studies have revealed the underlying molecular mechanisms for these processes in mammals and in Drosophila. This paper reviews these latest advances. |
| |
Keywords: | apoptosis caspase activation and inhibition IAP Smac/DIABLO |
本文献已被 PubMed 等数据库收录! |
|