Cell differentiation: reciprocal regulation of Apaf-1 and the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins.
The molecular mechanisms by which differentiated cells combat cell death and injury have remained unclear. In the current issue, it has been shown in neurons that cell differentiation is accompanied by a decrease in Apaf-1 and the activity of the apoptosome with an increased ability of the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) to sustain survival (Wright et al., 2004). These results, together with earlier ones, deepen our understanding of how cell death and the apoptosome are regulated during differentiation and in tumor cells.
Lindholm
Dan
D
Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Biomedical Centre, S-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden. Dan.Lindholm@neuro.uu.se
Arumäe
Urmas
U
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D053477:Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
C506592:APAF1 protein, human; D053477:Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1; D011506:Proteins; D045304:Cytochromes c; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases