XIAP Products

Description

XIAP [human X-linked IAP, hILP (human IAP-like protein), MIHA, BIRC4) is a member of the family of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP). IAPs suppress mitochondria-dependent and independent apoptosis by binding to and inhibiting caspases through their BIR domains (reviewed in Liston et al, 2003; Wright and Duckett, 2005). Resistance towards apoptosis is a hallmark of cancer cells, and overexpression of IAPs can contribute to the development of cancer though inhibiting apoptosis. In addition to at least one BIR domain, some IAP members also have a RING-type finger motif at their carboxyl-terminal. The RING finger domain of several IAPs, including XIAP, have E3 ubiquitin ligase activity and target the degradation of Smac/DIABLO through ubqiuitination (Morizane et al, 2005). Smac/DIABLO is a death inducer and functions by inhibiting IAP-caspase interactions, thereby promoting apoptosis. Degradation of cell death inducers like Smac/DIABLO is thought to be a conserved mechanism by which IAPs enhance their anti-apoptotic activity, thereby promoting cell survival. XIAP is highly characterized with respect to its structure and biochemical mechanisms, and has received interest as a therapeutic target (reviewed in Schimmer, 2006). Since XIAP blocks a substantial portion of the apoptosis pathway and is associated with chemoresistance in cancer cells, inhibiting XIAP has been a focus for potential therapeutics. Approaches have included antisense oligonucleotides and small molecule inhibitors. Small molecules that that target the BIR2 and BIR3 domains of XIAP are considered particularly attractive. This is because the BIR domains inhibit caspase activity, and it is thought that removing the inhibition should increase the cell's ability to undergo apoptosis as well as decrease its potential for chemoresistance. Full-length human XIAP is a 497 amino acid protein and migrates at approx. 53 kDa on SDS-PAGE.

Bioinformatics

Entrez	11798 Mouse 331 Human 63879 Rat
Uniprot	AAH32729 Human NM_001167 Human NP_001158 Human NP_001158.2 Human P98170 Human
Product By Gene ID	331
Alternate Names	API3X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein apoptosis inhibitor 3 baculoviral IAP repeat-containing 4 baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein 4 BIRC4XLP2 E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase XIAP EC 6.3.2.- hIAP3 hIAP-3 hILP IAP3 IAP-3 IAP-like protein ILP ILP1 Inhibitor of apoptosis protein 3 MIHA X-linked IAP X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis

Research Areas for XIAP

Find related products by research area and learn more about each of the different research areas below.

Apoptosis
Cancer

Related XIAP Blog Posts

Check out the latest blog posts on XIAP.

Apoptosis and Necroptosis Part II: Inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs); Key regulators of the balance between necroptosis, apoptosis and survival In the first installment of this two-part blog post titled "Apoptosis and Necroptosis: Important factors to identify both types of programmed cell death", the mechanisms by which cell death occurs and ways to identify these pathways were ...    Read more.

The Ins and Outs of Survivin By Rachel M.A. Linger, Ph.D.What is survivin?Survivin is a small (16.5 kDa) protein normally found in human fetal tissue. In contrast, survivin is typically undetectable in most normal adult tissues. Expression of ...    Read more.

cIAP2 - balancing cell death and cell survival The inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) are important regulators of cell death and inflammation. The cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein 2 (cIAP2) contains three Baculovirus IAP repeat (BIR) domains, a Ubiquitin associated (UBA) domain, and ...    Read more.

Caspase 9 - an important apoptosis marker Caspases are essential mediators of programmed cell death and are needed for both the induction of apoptosis as well as for aiding the degradation of cellular structures. Initiator caspases (such as Caspase-9) sense and respond to various signals i...    Read more.

Read more XIAP related blogs.