The nematode death machine in 3D

Abstract

Regulated apoptosis is part of the development of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. In a recent paper in Nature, Yan et al. (2005) describe the in vitro reconstitution of the core components of the worm apoptotic pathway. Based on a structural analysis of the complex between the death activator CED-4 and the antiapoptotic protein CED-9, the authors explain the regulation of activity of CED-4. Intriguingly, CED-4 comprises a AAA+ type ATPase domain yet does not seem to need ATP hydrolysis for activity.