Caspase Activators

Caspases (cysteinyl aspartate proteases) are involved in the signal transduction pathways of apoptosis, necrosis and inflammation. These enzymes can be divided into two major classes - initiators and effectors. The initiator isoforms (caspases-1,-4,-5,-8,-9,-10,-11,-12) are activated by, and interact with, upstream adaptor molecules through protein-protein interaction domains known as CARD and DED.

Effector caspases (-3,-6,-7) are responsible for cleaving downstream substrates and are ...