3jbt

Structural highlights

Function

[APAF_HUMAN] Oligomeric Apaf-1 mediates the cytochrome c-dependent autocatalytic activation of pro-caspase-9 (Apaf-3), leading to the activation of caspase-3 and apoptosis. This activation requires ATP. Isoform 6 is less effective in inducing apoptosis.^{[1] [2]} [CYC_HORSE] Electron carrier protein. The oxidized form of the cytochrome c heme group can accept an electron from the heme group of the cytochrome c1 subunit of cytochrome reductase. Cytochrome c then transfers this electron to the cytochrome oxidase complex, the final protein carrier in the mitochondrial electron-transport chain. Plays a role in apoptosis. Suppression of the anti-apoptotic members or activation of the pro-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family leads to altered mitochondrial membrane permeability resulting in release of cytochrome c into the cytosol. Binding of cytochrome c to Apaf-1 triggers the activation of caspase-9, which then accelerates apoptosis by activating other caspases (By similarity).

See Also

• Apoptotic protease-activating factor-1 3D structures

References

1. ↑ Hu Y, Benedict MA, Ding L, Nunez G. Role of cytochrome c and dATP/ATP hydrolysis in Apaf-1-mediated caspase-9 activation and apoptosis. EMBO J. 1999 Jul 1;18(13):3586-95. PMID:10393175 doi:10.1093/emboj/18.13.3586
2. ↑ Ogawa T, Shiga K, Hashimoto S, Kobayashi T, Horii A, Furukawa T. APAF-1-ALT, a novel alternative splicing form of APAF-1, potentially causes impeded ability of undergoing DNA damage-induced apoptosis in the LNCaP human prostate cancer cell line. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2003 Jun 27;306(2):537-43. PMID:12804598
3. ↑ Zhou M, Li Y, Hu Q, Bai XC, Huang W, Yan C, Scheres SH, Shi Y. Atomic structure of the apoptosome: mechanism of cytochrome c- and dATP-mediated activation of Apaf-1. Genes Dev. 2015 Nov 15;29(22):2349-61. doi: 10.1101/gad.272278.115. Epub 2015 Nov, 5. PMID:26543158 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/gad.272278.115