Apoptoszómát

Apoptoszómát is a protein complex that plays a crucial role in programmed cell death, also known as apoptosis. It is formed when the protein Apaf-1 binds to cytochrome c. This binding event is a critical step in the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis, which is triggered by internal cellular damage or stress. Once formed, the apoptosome acts as a platform for the activation of caspase-9, a key initiator caspase. Activated caspase-9 then goes on to cleave and activate other executioner caspases, such as caspase-3 and caspase-7. These executioner caspases are responsible for dismantling the cell by degrading essential cellular components, leading to the characteristic morphological changes of apoptosis, such as cell shrinkage and the formation of apoptotic bodies. The formation and function of the apoptosome are tightly regulated to ensure that apoptosis occurs only when necessary, preventing uncontrolled cell proliferation or the survival of damaged cells. Dysregulation of apoptosome formation or function has been implicated in various diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.