title: The nematode death machine in 3D.
abstract: Regulated apoptosis is part of the development of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. In a recent paper in Nature, Yan et al. (2005) describe the in vitro reconstitution of the core components of the worm apoptotic pathway. Based on a structural analysis of the complex between the death activator CED-4 and the antiapoptotic protein CED-9, the authors explain the regulation of activity of CED-4. Intriguingly, CED-4 comprises a AAA+ type ATPase domain yet does not seem to need ATP hydrolysis for activity.
authors.affiliation: Program in Apoptosis and Cell Death Research, The Burnham Institute for Medical Research, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pop
authors.forename: Guy S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Salvesen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053477:Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020169:Caspases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C506592:APAF1 protein, human; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D053477:Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; C089224:Ced-4 protein, C elegans; C087233:Ced-9 protein, C elegans; C112486:EGL-1 protein, C elegans; D011506:Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D020169:Caspases; C089223:ced-3 protein, C elegans