Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Mar 25.
Published in final edited form as: J Clin Cell Immunol. 2012 Aug 9;3(3):1000126. doi: 10.4172/2155-9899.1000126

Figure 8. Promotion of caspase activation by caspase-9-mediated feedback amplification of mitochondrial damage.

Figure 8

Various stress signals promote the release of Smac and cytochrome c from the mitochondria to promote the activation of caspase-9. (A) Without caspase-mediated feedback disruption of the mitochondria through cleavage of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, members of the IAP family inhibit the full activation of caspases and thus the execution of apoptosis. (B) Caspase-mediated cleavage of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins promotes the complete disruption of the outer mitochondrial membrane, furthering the release Smac and cytochrome c. Complete release of Smac and cytochrome c results in the full activation of caspases and apoptosis.