This work was supported by grants from The National Natural Science Foundation of China (30721001, 30973373, 30772507, 81071811), Hi-Tech Research and Development Program of China(2006AA02A403, 2006AA02A308) and International Science & Technology Cooperation and Exchanges Program of China(2008DFA31130)

The receptor-interacting protein 3 (RIP3) is a member of RIP kinase family, which has highly conserved serine/threonine kinase activity. Increasing number of evidences has revealed RIPs to be essential sensors of cellular stress and a key regulator of cell apoptosis, necrosis and survival. Recent studies demonstrating RIP3 as a possible trigger for cellular necrosis in response to TNF-α family of death inducing cytokines may lead to new strategies for developing cancer therapy. This review focuses on the biological characteristics and structure of RIP3 protein, and its cell death control function between apoptotic and necrotic.