IAP proteins: blocking the road to death's door.
The 'inhibitor of apoptosis' (IAP) gene family, which was discovered less than a decade ago, encodes a group of structurally related proteins that, in addition to their ability to suppress apoptotic cell death, are involved in an increasing number of seemingly unrelated cellular functions. Here, we review the functional and structural properties of this fascinating group of proteins, and of several recently identified IAP-binding factors that regulate IAP function.
Salvesen
Guy S
GS
Program in Apoptosis and Cell Death Research, The Burnham Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Duckett
Colin S
CS
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001665:Binding Sites; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011506:Proteins
D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D011506:Proteins