[Apoptotic protease activating factor 1 inducing apoptosis and related anti-tumor therapy -- review].

Abstract

Apoptotic protease activating factor-1 (Apaf1) is an essential factor in intrinsic mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis activation. Apaf1 leads to the formation of apoptosome, which then proteolytically activates caspase-9. The activated caspase-9 opens the downstream signal of caspases to execute programmed cell death. Apaf-1 is important for tumor suppression and drug resistance because it plays a central role in DNA damage-induced apoptosis. Inactivation of the Apaf-1 gene is implicated in disease progression and chemoresistance of some malignancies. Further research on the Apaf-1 will contribute to develop a new type of approach to anti-cancer drugs, which might have good prospect in clinical practice. In this paper, the structure and function of Apaf-1, the mechanism involved in Apaf-1 signaling pathway, and application of Apaf-1 in tumor therapy were reviewed.

• Authors: Li-Li He, Gui-Zhi Sun, Pei-Tong Zhang
• Journal: Zhongguo shi yan xue ye xue za zhi (Zhongguo Shi Yan Xue Ye Xue Za Zhi) Vol. 17 Issue 1 Pg. 251-4 (Feb 2009) ISSN: 1009-2137 [Print] China
• PMID: 19236791 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• APAF1 protein, human
• Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1
• CASP9 protein, human
• Caspase 9

Topics

• Apoptosis
• Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1 (metabolism)
• Caspase 9 (metabolism)
• Humans
• Neoplasms (therapy)
• Signal Transduction