Novel interactions of survivin with VDAC2 and Bcl2-family proteins influence mitochondrial apoptosis mechanisms, suggesting new cancer treatment strategies.
Survivin is a cancer-associated inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) that can suppress both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways. IAPs typically prevent programmed cell death by binding to caspases, but whether survivin behaves as a canonical IAP or can protect cells from death by alternative means has not been fully investigated. Here, we report a novel interaction between survivin and the mitochondrial outer membrane protein, VDAC2, which we show is an indirect association potentially mediated by Bcl2-family members. This novel finding suggests survivin can suppress mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis upstream of caspases and could open a new avenue for targeting survivin in anti-cancer therapy regimes.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Vaidya et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: