A Primer on Caspase Mechanisms

Overview

Journal Semin Cell Dev Biol

Specialties Cell Biology
Reproductive Medicine

Date 2018 Jan 14

PMID 29329946

Citations 79

Authors

Monica L Gonzalez Ramirez

Guy S Salvesen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Caspases belong to a diverse clan of proteolytic enzymes known as clan CD with highly disparate functions in cell signaling. The caspase members of this clan are only found in animals, and most of them orchestrate the demise of cells by the highly distinct regulated cell death phenotypes known as apoptosis and pyroptosis. This review looks at the mechanistic distinctions between the activity and activation mechanisms of mammalian caspases compared to other members of clan CD. We also compare and contrast the role of different caspase family members that program anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cell death pathways.

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