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Caspases

Caspases

Caspase, a family of cysteine proteases, serve as effectors in apoptosis. The ced3 gene in C.elegans was first identified to be involved in apoptosis. This gene encodes the ced-3 caspase that is similar to the interleukin-1-beta converting enzyme or ICE in mammals. In addition to apoptosis, caspases also function in the inflammatory response. Inflammatory caspases are essential in activating pro-inflammatory cytokines that recruit immune cells and block the replication of pathogens inside cells.

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...

Apoptosis

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a combination of two Greek words, 'apo' and 'ptosis,' meaning separation and falling off, respectively. Hippocrates used this word to describe gangrene, which was caused due to bandaging of fractured bones. Apoptosis was distinguished from necrosis in 1970 when John Kerr reported observations of morphological changes occurring during apoptosis. During one experiment, he observed that the disruption of blood supply to the liver tissue resulted in a size reduction of the tissue.

MAPK Signaling Cascades

MAPK Signaling Cascades

Mitogen-activated protein kinase, or MAPK pathway, activates three sequential kinases to regulate cellular responses such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. The canonical MAPK pathway starts with a mitogen or growth factor binding to an RTK. The activated RTKs stimulate Ras, which recruits Raf or MAP3 Kinase (MAPKKK), the first kinase of the MAPK signaling cascade. Raf further phosphorylates and activates MEK or MAP2 Kinases (MAPKK), which in turn phosphorylates MAP...

Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade

Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade

When a ligand binds to a cell-surface receptor, the receptor's intracellular domain changes shape, which may either activate its enzyme function or allow its binding to other molecules. The initial signal is amplified by most signal transduction pathways. This means that a single ligand molecule can activate multiple molecules of a downstream target. Proteins that relay a signal are most commonly phosphorylated at one or more sites, activating or inactivating the protein. Kinases catalyze the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Lighting Up the Pathways to Caspase Activation Using Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation

Lighting Up the Pathways to Caspase Activation Using Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation

Published on: March 5, 2018

Caspase activation cascades in apoptosis.

Susan E Logue¹, Seamus J Martin

¹Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetics, The Smurfit Institute, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.

Biochemical Society Transactions

|January 23, 2008

Summary

Apoptosis uses caspases (cysteine-aspartic proteases) to dismantle cells. This review explores diverse, well-established and emerging pathways controlling caspase activation during programmed cell death.

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Biochemistry

Background:

Apoptosis is a crucial, regulated process for removing unwanted cells.
Caspases, aspartic acid-specific proteases, are key executioners of apoptosis.
Caspases are synthesized as inactive precursors and activated by specific signals.

Discussion:

This review examines current knowledge on caspase activation pathways.
Focus is placed on both established pathways (e.g., apoptosome, death receptors) and less defined routes.
Understanding caspase activation is vital for controlling cell death.

Key Insights:

Caspase activation is tightly regulated to ensure controlled cell dismantling.
Diverse signaling pathways converge to activate caspases.
Research continues to uncover novel mechanisms of caspase regulation.

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Last Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Lighting Up the Pathways to Caspase Activation Using Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation

Lighting Up the Pathways to Caspase Activation Using Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation

Published on: March 5, 2018

Measuring Caspase Activity Using a Fluorometric Assay or Flow Cytometry

Measuring Caspase Activity Using a Fluorometric Assay or Flow Cytometry

Published on: March 24, 2023

Evaluation of Caspase Activation to Assess Innate Immune Cell Death

Evaluation of Caspase Activation to Assess Innate Immune Cell Death

Published on: January 20, 2023

Outlook:

Further elucidation of caspase activation pathways will offer therapeutic targets.
Understanding these pathways is essential for disease intervention.
Continued research will refine our knowledge of programmed cell death mechanisms.