Review Volume 4, Issue 5 pp 330—349

Figure 1. Schematic representation of the main molecular pathways leading to apoptosis. In the extrinsic pathway upon ligand binding to specific receptors the DISC complex is formed and caspase 8 activated. In the intrinsic pathway release of cyt c from the mitochondria result in the formation of the apoptosome and activation of caspase 9. Caspase 8 and 9 then activate downstream caspases such as caspase 3 resulting in cell death. The two pathways are connected through the cleavage of the BH3 only protein BID.