CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulator Protein

Background

CASP8 and FADD-like apoptosis regulator (CFLAR), also known as c-FLIP, is an important regulatory protein that modulates apoptosis, particularly in response to death receptor signaling. CFLAR is structurally related to the caspase family but lacks protease activity, allowing it to inhibit caspase-8 activation in the death receptor pathway. By binding to the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC), CFLAR blocks the activation of downstream apoptotic signaling, effectively acting as an inhibitor of apoptosis. This inhibition allows cells to evade cell death, and as such, CFLAR has been implicated in promoting cell survival in various cancers, as well as playing a role in immune responses.