An anti-apoptotic protein human survivin is a direct inhibitor of caspase-3 and-7

Results demonstrate that survivin mediates its anti-apoototic activity by sequestering caspase-3 and -7 in their inhibited states. Data indicate that the protein binds to caspase-3 and -7 and inhibits the cleavage of the physiological substrates of the enzymes during the G2/M phase of the cell cycle.