Viral inhibitors reveal overlapping themes in regulation of cell death and innate immunity.
Many viruses regulate a crucial point in the apoptotic pathway by expressing viral Bcl-2 homologues, which have become useful tools to investigate the mechanisms behind the control of the mitochondrial checkpoint of apoptosis. Concurrently, a number of viral inhibitors of innate immune signalling have been instrumental tools in the discovery of key host pathways. Here we discuss how viral inhibitors of the apoptotic and innate signalling pathways have further enhanced the understanding of both research fields and are beginning to shed light on how these two pathways converge.
Postigo
Antonio
A
Cell Motility Laboratory, Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PX, UK. antonio.postigo@cancer.org.uk
Ferrer
Pedro Eitz
PE
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D057131:Immune Evasion; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008954:Models, Biological; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D014780:Viruses / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity
D014764:Viral Proteins