Abstract

The 'inhibitor of apoptosis' (IAP) gene family, which was discovered less than a decade ago, encodes a group of structurally related proteins that, in addition to their ability to suppress apoptotic cell death, are involved in an increasing number of seemingly unrelated cellular functions. Here, we review the functional and structural properties of this fascinating group of proteins, and of several recently identified IAP-binding factors that regulate IAP function.

Author affiliations

1. Program in Apoptosis and Cell Death Research, The Burnham Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
2. Departments of Pathology and Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Med. Sci. I, Room 5315, 1301 Catherine, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-0602, USA.

Correspondence to: Colin S. Duckett² Email: colind@umich.edu