Signaling pathways often require receptor dimers to become active. What would be an advantage of the extrinsic apoptosis pathway requiring a trimer? I note from the article "Nature Reviews, Cancer 16:539, 2016" the following: The extrinsic apoptotic pathway, upon binding to their cognate ligand, death receptors such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor (TRAILR) and FAS can activate initiator caspases (caspase-8 and caspase-10) through dimerization mediated by adaptor proteins such as FAS-associated death domain protein (FADD). Active caspase-8 and caspase-10 then cleave and activate the effector caspase-3 and caspase-7, leading to apoptosis. I can't think of any other pathway that uses a trimer, so there must be a reason

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Chapter9: Cell Communication
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Signaling pathways often require receptor dimers to become active. What would be an advantage of the extrinsic apoptosis pathway requiring a trimer?

I note from the article "Nature Reviews, Cancer 16:539, 2016" the following:

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway, upon binding to their cognate ligand, death receptors such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor (TRAILR) and FAS can activate initiator caspases (caspase-8 and caspase-10) through dimerization mediated by adaptor proteins such as FAS-associated death domain protein (FADD). Active caspase-8 and caspase-10 then cleave and activate the effector caspase-3 and caspase-7, leading to apoptosis.

I can't think of any other pathway that uses a trimer, so there must be a reason. Glad an exprt can help.

 

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