CASPASE-9:BIR3 DOMAIN OF XIAP COMPLEXES AND METHODS OF USE

摘要

The present invention provides polypeptides and specific binding agents that modify the activity of an initiator caspase involved in apoptosis, caspase-9. The polypeptides include the third baculoviral IAP repeat (BIR3) of an IAP and form a heterodimer complex with caspase-9. Nucleic acid molecules including expression vectors encoding the polypeptides and variants thereof as well as variants of caspase-9 are provided. Such polypeptide and nucleic acid molecules may be used for modifying apoptosis.