ANTI-APOPTOTIC VERSUS PRO-APOPTOTIC SIGNAL-TRANSDUCTION - CHECKPOINTSAND STOP SIGNS ALONG THE ROAD TO DEATH

The activation of caspases is a final commitment step for apoptosis. I t is now evident that signal transduction pathways involving specific protein kinases modulate the apoptotic response. Both pro-apoptotic an d anti-apoptotic pathways integrate environmental cues that control th e decision to undergo apoptosis. Pro- and anti-apoptotic signal pathwa ys regulate the activation of the caspases. In this review we describe our current understanding of apoptotic signal transduction.