Life and death by death receptors

Death receptors are members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily characterized by a cytoplasmic region known as the "death domain" that enables the receptors to initiate cytotoxic signals when engaged by cognate ligands. Binding to the ligand results in receptor aggregation and recruitment of adaptor proteins, which, in turn, initiates a proteolytic cascade by recruiting and activating initiator caspases 8 and 10. Death receptors were once thought to primarily induce cytotoxic signaling cascades. However, recent data indicate that they initiate multiple signaling pathways, unveiling a number of nonapoptosis-related functions, including regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation,…

• MF
  Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Award: DK63947