Promotes apoptosis by activating caspases in the cytochrome c/Apaf-1/caspase-9 pathway. Acts by opposing the inhibitory activity of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP). Inhibits the activity of BIRC6/bruce by inhibiting its binding to caspases. Isoform 3 attenuates the stability and apoptosis- inhibiting activity of XIAP/BIRC4 by promoting XIAP/BIRC4 ubiquitination and degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Isoform 3 also disrupts XIAP/BIRC4 interacting with processed caspase-9 and promotes caspase-3 activation. Isoform 1 is defective in the capacity to down-regulate the XIAP/BIRC4 abundance. Homodimer. Interacts with NGFRAP1/BEX3. Interacts with BIRC2/c-IAP1, BIRC3/c-IAP2, XIAP/BIRC4, BIRC6/bruce and BIRC7/livin. Interacts with the monomeric and dimeric form of BIRC5/survivin. Ubiquitously expressed with highest expression in testis. Expression is also high in heart, liver, kidney, spleen, prostate and ovary. Low in brain, lung, thymus and peripheral blood leukocytes. Isoform 3 is ubiquitously expressed. 3 isoforms of the human protein are produced by alternative splicing. Note: This description may include information from UniProtKB.
Protein type: Mitochondrial; Apoptosis
Cellular Component: internal side of plasma membrane; mitochondrion; mitochondrial intermembrane space; cytosol
Molecular Function: protein binding
Biological Process: caspase activation; neuron apoptosis; induction of apoptosis via death domain receptors; positive regulation of apoptosis; apoptosis; caspase activation via cytochrome c; induction of apoptosis by oxidative stress
SS: The number of records in which this modification site was determined using site-specific methods. SS methods include amino acid sequencing, site-directed mutagenesis, modification site-specific antibodies, specific MS strategies, etc.