Role of Apaf-1, a key regulator of apoptosis, in melanoma progression and chemoresistance.
Apoptosis protease-activating factor-1 (Apaf-1) is a key regulator of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, being the central element of the multimeric apoptosome formed by procaspase 9, cytochrome c, and Apaf-1 itself. In this review, the principal aspects about Apaf-1 gene structure and function, and its role in the apoptotic machinery, are described. Moreover, the most recent findings about the involvement of this molecule in melanoma progression and chemoresistance, as well as the clinico-pathological relevance of these findings in the treatment of this deadly disease, are reported.
Campioni
Mara
M
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysic F. Cedrangolo, Section of Pathology, Second University of Naples, Italy.
Santini
Daniele
D
Tonini
Giuseppe
G
Murace
Raffaele
R
Dragonetti
Emanuele
E
Spugnini
Enrico P
EP
Baldi
Alfonso
A
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis; D053477:Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1; D018450:Disease Progression; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*
C506592:APAF1 protein, human; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D053477:Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011506:Proteins