Caspase cascade

By targeting procaspase-3, BioLineRx Ltd. believes BL-4030 can bypass upstream elements in the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways. In the intrinsic pathway, the mitochondrial membrane [1a] is depolarized due to cell stress, resulting in the release of cytochrome c (cyt-c). Overexpression of Bcl-2 [1b], a key cancer target, has been found to block cyt-c release and thus prevents cell death. Once cyt-c is released into the cytosol it binds to Apaf-1, which can bind procaspase-9, cleaving the enzyme into active caspase-9 [1c]. Caspase-9 then activates procaspase-3 [1d]. ...