A structural view of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis

Nat Struct Biol. 2001 May;8(5):394-401. doi: 10.1038/87548.

Abstract

Mitochondria-mediated apoptosis plays a central role in animal development and tissue homeostasis, and its alteration results in a range of malignant disorders including cancer. Upon apoptotic stimuli, the mitochondrial proteins cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO are released into the cytosol, where they synergistically activate caspases by activating Apaf-1 and relieving the apoptotic inhibition by IAPs. Recent biochemical and structural studies reveal a molecular basis for these important events and identify an evolutionarily conserved mechanism of apoptosis from fruit flies to mammals.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Apoptosis*
  • Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Caspase Inhibitors
  • Caspases / chemistry
  • Caspases / metabolism
  • Conserved Sequence
  • Cytochrome c Group / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Mitochondria / enzymology
  • Mitochondria / metabolism*
  • Mitochondrial Proteins*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Proteins / chemistry
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism

Substances

  • APAF1 protein, human
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Caspase Inhibitors
  • Cytochrome c Group
  • DIABLO protein, human
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Caspases