Apoptosomes: protease activation platforms to die from.

Apoptosis is orchestrated by members of the caspase family of cysteine proteases that exist as latent pro-enzymes in healthy cells. Caspase-activating platforms, called apoptosomes, initiate caspase activation in metazoans as diverse as nematodes and mammals. Several recent studies have generated new insights into the composition and assembly mechanisms of worm, fly and human apoptosomes.