Bcl-2 subfamily (Ced9 in Caenorhabditis elegans) | |
Bcl-2 | Promotes survival |
Bcl-xl | Promotes survival |
Bcl-w | Promotes survival |
Bcl-xs | Promotes death |
Bax family | |
Bax | Promotes death |
Bak | Promotes death |
Bok | Promotes death |
BH3 subfamily | |
Bad | Promotes death |
Bik | Promotes death |
Bid | Promotes death |
Blk | Promotes death |
HRK | Promotes death |
BimL | Promotes death |
Egl (C elegans) | Promotes death |
Caspases 1–13* (Ced3 in C elegans) | These interleukin 1β converting enzyme (ICE) like cysteine proteinases form a central part of the apoptotic cascade |
Apaf-1 (Ced4 in C elegans) | These adaptor molecules link caspase (Ced3) activation and Bcl-2 (Ced9) expression. Their functions in promoting death or survival remain to be defined |
p53 family of tumour supressor genes | p53 is necessary for apoptosis induced by agents that cause DNA damage. Growth arrest occurs by activation of p21. p53 can also affect the expression of bcl-2 and bax directly. p21/WAF1 inhibits cyclin dependent kinases and prevents progression through the cell cycle |
Nitric oxide | This molecule prevents apoptosis by altering bcl-2 expression and by nitrosylation of caspases |
Cytochrome c | This molecule induces apoptosis via caspase activation |