Apoptosis controlling overall and Bcl-2 Flashcards
What is apoptosis dependent on?
CASPASES - A family of ProteASES that have a Cysteine at their active site and cleave their target proteins at specific ASpartic acids.
What do caspases do once active?
Activate other caspases - an amplifying proteolytic cascade
What is an amplifying proteolytic cascade?
Caspases activating other caspases
What are the 2 ways caspases are activated?
From OUTSIDE the cell by activation of death receptors on the cell surface or suicide.
What is the first step of the EXTRINSIC mechanism? The first stage.
Killer lymphocytes carrying Fas ligand binds and activates Fas proteins on the surface of target cells.
What is a Fas ligand?
Fas ligand s a type-II transmembrane protein that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family. Its binding with its receptor induces apoptosis.
What is the second step of the extrinsic mechanism?
Adaptor proteins bind to Fas proteins and cause aggregation of PRO-CASPASE-8 molecules.
What is the first stage of the INTRINSIC mechanism?
Mitochondria release cytochromc C, which binds and caused aggregation of Apaf-1
What is the second stage of the intrinsic mechanism?
Apaf-1 binds and aggregates procaspase-9 molecules
What is the third and final stage of both the extrinsic and intrinsic mechanism?
Procaspase cleaved, triggering caspase cascade.
What is BCL-2?
Bcl-2 family are promotors/suppresors of apoptosis; regulators.
What are caspases?
Cystine proteases, executioners of apop.
Which Bcl-2 family molecules are anti-apop?
Bcl-2 and Bcl-x
Which Bcl-2 family molecules are pro-apop?
Bax, Bak, Bid, Bim
Where do Bcl-2 family reside?
Mitochondrial membrane