Fig. (2) Schematic representation of the TRAIL and CD95 signalling network. Binding of CD95 or TRAIL to their respective receptors leads to receptor trimerisation and formation of the death-inducing signalling complex (DISC). The adaptor protein FADD is recruited to the DISC, this results in recruitment of procaspase-8 and -10. cFLIP can compete with caspase-8 for the binding to FADD. DISC-activated caspase-8 and -10 trigger a caspase cascade via cleavage of consequent activation of caspase-3. In addition, Bid is cleaved to tBid. which induces MOMP resulting in release of cytochrome c (CytC) and Smac/DIABLO from the mitochondrial intermembrane space. CytC, together with Apaf-1 and caspase-9 forms the apoptosome, which serves as the activation platform for caspase-9. Smac/DIABLO counteracts the inhibitory function of XIAP, thereby allowing for full activation of caspases 3 and 9, ultimately leading to cell death.