apoptosome


apoptosome

(ă-pop'tō-sōm), A heptameric apoptotic protease activating factor 1 (Apaf-1)-cytochrome-c complex. The apoptosome recruits and activates caspases that cleave intracellular substrates and ultimately lead to cell death by apoptosis. Release of mitochondrial cytochrome-c into the cytoplasm results in binding with monomers of Apaf-1, thereby inducing a conformational change that permits a stable association with (deoxy)adenosine triphosphate and formation of the heptameric complex.
See also: apoptosis. [apoptosis + -some]