title: Mechanisms of caspase activation and inhibition during apoptosis.
abstract: Caspases are central components of the machinery responsible for apoptosis. Recent structural and biochemical studies on procaspases, IAPs, Smac/DIABLO, and apoptosome have revealed a conserved mechanism of caspase activation and inhibition. This article reviews these latest advances and presents our current understanding of caspase regulation during apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA. yshi@molbio.princeton.edu
authors.forename: Yigong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001665:Binding Sites; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D020169:Caspases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011506:Proteins
chemical_list: D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011506:Proteins; D020169:Caspases