Modulators of Apoptotic Cell Death

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is essential for the proper development and homeostasis of many organisms, including humans.  Activation of caspases, a family of enzymes, triggers apoptosis.  IAPs (Inhibitors of Apoptosis Proteins) are proteins that bind to these caspases and inhibit their activity, thus preventing apoptosis.  IAPs are also frequently over-expressed in human cancer cells, indicating that IAPs could be a possible target for anti-cancer drugs.  Our scientists have discovered proteins and peptides containing specific motifs that stimulate degradation of IAPs, thus permitting apoptosis to occur. 

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