RGD Reference Report - IAPs: what's in a name? - Rat Genome Database

Send us a Message



Submit Data |  Help |  Video Tutorials |  News |  Publications |  Download |  REST API |  Citing RGD |  Contact   

IAPs: what's in a name?

Authors: Srinivasula, Srinivasa M  Ashwell, Jonathan D 
Citation: Srinivasula SM and Ashwell JD, Mol Cell. 2008 Apr 25;30(2):123-35. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2008.03.008.
RGD ID: 5129992
Pubmed: PMID:18439892   (View Abstract at PubMed)
PMCID: PMC2677451   (View Article at PubMed Central)
DOI: DOI:10.1016/j.molcel.2008.03.008   (Journal Full-text)

Originally described in insect viruses, cellular proteins with Baculoviral IAP repeat (BIR) motifs have been thought to function primarily as inhibitors of apoptosis. The subsequent finding that a subset of IAPs that contain a RING domain have ubiquitin protein ligase (E3) activity implied the presence of other functions. It is now known that IAPs are involved in mitotic chromosome segregation, cellular morphogenesis, copper homeostasis, and intracellular signaling. Here, we review the current understanding of the roles of IAPs in apoptotic and nonapoptotic processes and explore the notion that the latter represents the primary physiologic activities of IAPs.


Additional Information