Diablo homolog

Diablo homolog, is a is_associated_with::mitochondrial is_associated_with::protein that in humans is encoded by the DIABLO is_associated_with::gene (direct IAP binding protein with low pI). DIABLO is also referred to as second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases or SMAC.

Function
SMAC is a is_associated_with::mitochondrial protein that promotes cytochrome-c dependent activation by eliminating the effect of is_associated_with::inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) – a protein that negatively regulates is_associated_with::apoptosis, programmed cell death. SMAC is normally a mitochondrial protein, but it is found in the cytosol when a cell is primed for apoptosis during the final execution step of is_associated_with::caspase activation. SMAC is the second protein in the apoptosis link, along with cytochrome c, that promotes apoptosis by activating caspases.

SMAC is an inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP)-binding protein. This mitochondrial protein enters the cytosol when cells undergo apoptosis, and it moderates the caspase inhibition of IAPs.

Gene
Multiple polyadenylation sites have been found for this gene. Several alternatively spliced transcript variants that encode distinct isoforms have been described for this gene but the validity of some transcripts, and their predicted ORFs, has not been determined conclusively.

Interactions
Diablo homolog has been shown to interact with:
 * is_associated_with::BIRC2,
 * BIRC5,
 * LTBR, and
 * is_associated_with::XIAP.