Several key proteins regulate apoptosis, including caspases, Bcl-2 family proteins, and death receptors. Caspases are a family of proteases that play a central role in the execution of apoptosis. Bcl-2 family proteins regulate the mitochondrial pathway by controlling the release of cytochrome c, while death receptors, such as Fas and TNF receptors, initiate the extrinsic pathway.
