The death-inducing signaling complex or DISC is a multi-
protein
Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, respon ...
complex formed by members of the
death receptor family of
apoptosis-inducing cellular receptors. A typical example is
FasR, which forms the DISC upon
trimerization as a result of its ligand (
FasL) binding. The DISC is composed of the death receptor,
FADD
FAS-associated death domain protein, also called MORT1, is encoded by the ''FADD'' gene on the 11q13.3 region of chromosome 11 in humans.
FADD is an adaptor protein that bridges members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, such ...
, and
caspase 8
Caspase-8 is a caspase protein, encoded by the ''CASP8'' gene. It most likely acts upon caspase-3.
''CASP8'' orthologs have been identified in numerous mammals for which complete genome data are available. These unique orthologs are also prese ...
. It transduces a downstream signal cascade resulting in apoptosis.
Description
The
Fas ligands, or cytotoxicity-dependent APO-1-associated proteins, physically associate with APO-1 (also known as the
Fas receptor
The Fas receptor, also known as Fas, FasR, apoptosis antigen 1 (APO-1 or APT), cluster of differentiation 95 (CD95) or tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 6 (TNFRSF6), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''FAS'' gene. Fas ...
, or CD95), a
tumor
A neoplasm () is a type of abnormal and excessive growth of tissue. The process that occurs to form or produce a neoplasm is called neoplasia. The growth of a neoplasm is uncoordinated with that of the normal surrounding tissue, and persists ...
necrosis factor containing a functional
death domain. This association leads to the formation of the DISC, thereby inducing apoptosis. The entire process is initiated when the cell registers the presence of CD95L, the cognate ligand for APO-1. Upon binding, the CAP proteins and procaspase-8 (co