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Protein | Description | Action | References |
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Cytochrome C (Cyt C) | A small heme protein found loosely associated with the inner membrane of the mitochondrion | Cause ER calcium release. The overall increase in calcium triggers a massive release of additional cyt c, which then acts in the positive feedback loop to maintain ER calcium release through the inositol 3 phosphate receptors. This release in turn activates caspase-9 | [66] |
Tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α) | TNF acts via the TNF receptor (TNF-R) and is part of the extrinsic pathway for triggering apoptosis | TNF-R associates with procaspases through adapter proteins (FADD, TRADD, etc.) | [67] |
Caspases | Proteases, which exist as inactive proenzymes | Play essential roles in apoptosis (programmed cell death) and inflammation | [10] |
Fas | Ligand which associated with the forms the Death Inducing Signalling Complex (DISC) upon ligand binding | Fas pathway is sufficient to induce complete apoptosis in certain cell types through DISC assembly and subsequent caspase-8 activation | [68] |
Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD) | An adaptor molecule that bridges the Fas-receptor, and other death receptors, to caspase-8 through its death domain | Forms the death inducing signalling complex (DISC) during apoptosis | [68] |
BAX | A proapoptotic member of the Bcl-2 protein family | Activated Bax forms an oligomeric pore in the outer membrane | [10] |
Apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) | A flavoprotein found in the mitochondrial intermembrane space in healthy cells | Essential for nuclear disassembly in apoptotic cells | [10] |
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