Inhibitor of apoptosis (IAPs) are a family of proteins that are the major regulators of apoptosis through their interaction with the various components of the apoptotic signalling cascades. Originally discovered in baculovirus, the human homologues are sometimes described as baculovirus IAP repeat containing (BIRC) proteins.

There are a number of different IAPs including neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP or BIRC1), cellular IAPs (c-IAP-1 and c-IAP-2, or BIRC2 and BIRC3 respectively), X-chromosome linked IAP (XIAP or BIRC4) and survivin (BIRC5). cIAP-1 and 2 function through interaction with TNF receptors and by binding to the mitochondrial protein, SMAC, preventing it binding to XIAP. Thought to be the most potent apoptosis suppressor, XIAP, directly binds and inhibits caspases -3, -7 and -9. Survivin, which also binds to several caspases, is up-regulated in a many tumour cell types.

Inhibitors

Cat.No.: 2156
Product Name: Embelin
Activity: Inhibitor of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP); cell-permeable and antitumor

Other
Cat.No.: 3253
Product Name: Triptolide
Activity: Blocks TNF-α-mediated c-IAP2 and c-IAP1 induction