Death receptors

Abstract

Apoptosis, the cell's intrinsic death program, can be initiated by a variety of different stimuli including ligation of death receptors on the cell's surface. Death receptors belong to the TNF/NGF receptor superfamily and are characterized by a protein motif termed death domain, which links death receptors to the cell's apoptotic machinery. Triggering of death receptors ultimately results in activation of caspases, a family of cysteine proteases that act as death effector molecules. Depending on the cell type, mitochondria are crucial components in the receptor pathway by amplifying the death signal elicited at the cell membrane. Also, death receptors can signal survival under certain circumstances. Understanding these diverse modes of action of death receptors and their control mechanisms will provide a molecular basis for novel strategies targeting death receptor pathways in human diseases.