TRAIL and TRAIL Receptors

Apoptosis or programmed cell death is induced in cells by a group of death domain containing receptors.

TRAIL binds at least five different receptors: TRAIL R1 (DR4), R2 (DR5), R3 (DcR1), R4 (DcR2), and osteoprotegerin (OPG). TRAIL receptors all exhibit cysteine-rich repeats characteristic of the TNF receptor superfamily. TRAIL R1 and R2 are type 1 transmembrane proteins with intracellular death domains (DD) and, subsequently, have the ability to mediate TRAIL-induced apoptosis.