CASPs

Caspases are a family of cysteine proteases that play a central role in apoptosis.

Caspases are highly conserved in multicellular organisms and function as central regulators of apoptosis.

In Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila and mice, caspases also function as regulatory molecules for immunity and cell-fate determination (nonapoptotic functions of caspases).

Members

CASP1

CASP2

CASP3

CASP4

CASP5

CASP6

CASP7

CASP8

CASP9

CASP10

CASP11

Pathology of caspases

 CASP8 and CASP10 mutations in autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome type 2 (ALPS2) (caspases-related ALPS)

• CASP10 germline mutations in autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome type 2a (ALPS2a)
• CASP8 germline mutations in autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome type 2b (ALPS2b)

See also

 autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS)
 caspases pathway
 caspase inhibitors
 caspase substrates
 caspase-dependent cellular death

References

 Kuranaga E, Miura M. Nonapoptotic functions of caspases: caspases as regulatory molecules for immunity and cell-fate determination. Trends Cell Biol. 2007 Jan 31; PMID: 17275304

 Lavrik IN, Golks A, Krammer PH. Caspases: pharmacological manipulation of cell death. J Clin Invest. 2005 Oct;115(10):2665-72. PMID: 16200200

 Abraham MC, Shaham S. Death without caspases, caspases without death. Trends Cell Biol. 2004 Apr;14(4):184-93. PMID: 15066636

 Salvesen GS, Dixit VM: Caspases: intracellular signaling by proteolysis. Cell 91:443, 1997. PMID: 9390553