Evidence from Wang and colleagues indicates that the stoichiometric ratio of procaspase-9 to Apaf-1 within the complex is approximately 1:1 . This was further proved by quantitative mass spectrometry analysis. The stoichiometry of cytochrome c to Apaf-1 within the complex is proved to be 1:1. There are some debates about whether stable incorporation of cytochrome c into the apoptosome is required following oligomerization, but recent structural data favor the idea that cytochrome c stabilizes the oligomeric human apoptosome. However, cytochrome c may be not required for the assembly of apoptosome in non-mammalian species, such as worms and fruit flies. In addition, several other molecules, most notably caspase-3, have been reported to co-purify with the apoptosome and caspase-3 has been proved to be able to bind the apoptosome-procaspase-9 complex.