Figure 3.

Functions of survivin in apoptosis pathways. Apoptosis can be initiated either by the extrinsic pathway that acts through caspase-8 or by intrinsic pathway that acts through caspase-9. These pathways converge to activate the effector caspases, which eventually leads to apoptosis. Survivin prevents processing of initiator caspase-9 and effector caspases, thereby leading to apoptosis inhibition. Second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (SMAC) can relieve the caspase-inhibitory function of survivin. FADD, FAS-associated death domain ⁴¹, ⁵⁴.