The molecular pathways that mediate apoptosis are tightly regulated by a se
ries of positive and negative signals, the balance of which determines whet
her or not cells commit suicide. New data from several laboratories now sho
w that heat-shock proteins (HSPs) can influence this process through direct
physical interaction with key components of the apoptotic machinery. These
reports marry the survival (or death)-endowing properties of HSPs to the c
ell-death pathway.