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Published on: January 11, 2019

Inhibitors of apoptotic proteins: new targets for anticancer therapy

Mohammad Saleem1, Muhammad Imran Qadir, Nadia Perveen

  • 1College of Pharmacy, GC University, Faisalabad, Pakistan; University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.

Chemical Biology & Drug Design
|June 25, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Inhibitors of apoptotic proteins (IAPs) prevent cell death. Their deregulation is linked to cancer, suggesting IAPs as therapeutic targets for inducing cancer cell apoptosis.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Inhibitors of apoptotic proteins (IAPs) regulate apoptosis by inhibiting caspases.
  • Eight IAP family members exist, including XIAP, survivin, and cIAPs.
  • IAP deregulation is implicated in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of IAPs in cellular processes.
  • To explore IAPs as potential therapeutic targets.

Main Methods:

  • Review of IAP family members and their functions.
  • Analysis of IAP involvement in disease pathogenesis.

Main Results:

  • IAPs function as key negative regulators of apoptosis.
  • Dysregulation of IAPs contributes to oncogenesis and neurodegeneration.
  • IAPs represent promising targets for novel anticancer therapies.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting IAPs offers a potential strategy to induce apoptosis in cancer cells.
  • Further research into IAP inhibitors could lead to new cancer treatments.
Keywords:
BIR-containing (BIRC) proteinsbaculovirus IAP repeat (BIR)inhibitors of apoptotic proteins (IAPs)

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