title: A molecular view on signal transduction by the apoptosome.
abstract: Apoptosomes are signaling platforms that initiate the dismantling of a cell during apoptosis. In mammals, assembly of the apoptosome is the pivotal point in the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis, and is prompted by binding of cytochrome c to the apoptotic protease-activating factor 1 (Apaf-1) in the presence of ATP. The resulting wheel-like heptamer of seven molecules Apaf-1 and seven molecules cytochrome c binds and activates the initiator caspase-9, which in turn ignites the downstream caspase cascade. In this review we discuss the molecular determinants for the formation of the mammalian apoptosome and caspase activation and describe the related signaling platforms in flies and nematodes.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Reubold
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eschenburg
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D053478:Apoptosomes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D053477:Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D053478:Apoptosomes; D053477:Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D045304:Cytochromes c; D053453:Caspase 9