APAF1
Description
The APAF1 (apoptotic peptidase activating factor 1) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 12.
APAF1 is a human homolog of the C. elegans CED-4 gene. It plays a crucial role in apoptosis by acting as an activator of caspase-3. APAF1 contains a caspase recruitment domain (CARD), an ATPase domain (NB-ARC), helical domains, and WD40 repeat domains. Upon binding cytochrome c and dATP, it forms an oligomeric apoptosome, which binds and cleaves Procaspase-9, activating it. Activated caspase-9 then triggers a cascade of events leading to apoptosis. Alternative splicing produces different isoforms of APAF1. APAF1 has been shown to interact with several other proteins, including APIP, BCL2-like 1, Caspase-9, HSPA4, and NLRP1.
APAF1 is also known as APAF-1, CED4.
