Apoptosis is regulated by a complex network of signaling pathways that involve various proteins. The intrinsic pathway, also known as the mitochondrial pathway, is regulated by the Bcl-2 family of proteins, which control the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria. The extrinsic pathway involves death receptors such as Fas and TNF receptor, which activate downstream signaling cascades. Both pathways converge on the activation of caspases, which are proteolytic enzymes that execute the apoptotic process.
