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Survivin and IAP proteins in cell-death mechanisms

Dario C Altieri1

  • 1Prostate Cancer Discovery and Development Program, Department of Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, U.S.A. dario.altieri@umassmed.edu

The Biochemical Journal
|August 14, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Cell death and survival pathways are crucial for maintaining organism health and preventing diseases like cancer. Recent research reveals cell-death modifiers, such as inhibitor of apoptosis proteins, play broader roles in cellular homeostasis.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cell number homeostasis is vital for metazoan life.
  • Deregulation of cell death and survival pathways contributes to human diseases.
  • Significant progress has been made in mapping signaling circuits controlling cell-fate decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the expanding roles of cell-death modifiers.
  • To highlight the function of inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins beyond caspase inhibition.
  • To understand the involvement of these molecules in cellular homeostasis and disease.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on cell death and survival signaling.
  • Analysis of the known functions of inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins.
  • Integration of findings to illustrate the broader roles of IAPs.

Main Results:

  • Cell-fate decisions are governed by complex signaling pathways.
  • Knowledge of cell death and survival has led to therapeutic strategies, particularly for cancer.
  • Cell-death modifiers, exemplified by IAPs, regulate cell division, intracellular signaling, and cellular adaptation.

Conclusions:

  • The functions of cell-death modifiers have significantly broadened.
  • Inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins are key arbiters of cellular homeostasis.
  • IAPs are crucial at the crossroads of normal and transformed cellular responses.

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