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Related Concept Videos

Caspases01:24

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 Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:17

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...
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

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...
Apoptosis01:30

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.
Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade01:22

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...
Allosteric Proteins-ATCase01:19

Allosteric Proteins-ATCase

Binding sites linkages can regulate a protein's function.  For example, enzyme activity is often regulated through a feedback mechanism where the end product of the biochemical process serves as an inhibitor.
Aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATCase) is a cytosolic enzyme that catalyzes the condensation of L-aspartate and carbamoyl phosphate to  N-carbamoyl-L-aspartate. This reaction is the first step in pyrimidine biosynthesis. UTP and CTP, the end products of the pyrimidine synthesis pathway,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Lighting Up the Pathways to Caspase Activation Using Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation
08:47

Lighting Up the Pathways to Caspase Activation Using Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation

Published on: March 5, 2018

Caspase-8 for outer harmony.

Gabriel Sollberger1, Hans-Dietmar Beer

  • 1Institute of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland.

Science Signaling
|July 9, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Ablating caspase-8 in skin cells disrupts epidermal balance, leading to inflammation due to increased pro-interleukin-1alpha. This highlights caspase-8

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology and immunology research
  • Skin barrier function and innate immunity

Background:

  • The epidermis acts as the primary defense against external threats.
  • Maintaining epidermal homeostasis requires a balance between keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation.
  • Terminal differentiation of keratinocytes forms the protective corneocyte layer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of caspase-8 in epidermal homeostasis.
  • To determine the consequences of keratinocyte-specific caspase-8 ablation on skin immunity.

Main Methods:

  • Generation of genetically modified mice with keratinocyte-specific caspase-8 deletion.
  • Analysis of epidermal structure, keratinocyte differentiation, and inflammatory markers.

Main Results:

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Measuring Composition of CD95 Death-Inducing Signaling Complex and Processing of Procaspase-8 in this Complex
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Measuring Composition of CD95 Death-Inducing Signaling Complex and Processing of Procaspase-8 in this Complex

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Measuring Caspase Activity Using a Fluorometric Assay or Flow Cytometry
05:29

Measuring Caspase Activity Using a Fluorometric Assay or Flow Cytometry

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Last Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Lighting Up the Pathways to Caspase Activation Using Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation
08:47

Lighting Up the Pathways to Caspase Activation Using Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation

Published on: March 5, 2018

Measuring Composition of CD95 Death-Inducing Signaling Complex and Processing of Procaspase-8 in this Complex
07:17

Measuring Composition of CD95 Death-Inducing Signaling Complex and Processing of Procaspase-8 in this Complex

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Measuring Caspase Activity Using a Fluorometric Assay or Flow Cytometry
05:29

Measuring Caspase Activity Using a Fluorometric Assay or Flow Cytometry

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  • Ablation of caspase-8 in mouse epidermis disrupted the balance between proliferation and differentiation.
  • Despite normal differentiation in outer layers, mice exhibited significant cutaneous inflammation.
  • Increased production and secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokine pro-interleukin-1alpha were observed.

Conclusions:

  • Caspase-8 plays a critical role in maintaining epidermal homeostasis and preventing inflammation.
  • Loss of caspase-8 function leads to an inflammatory skin phenotype via pro-interleukin-1alpha signaling.
  • These findings offer insights into the innate immune functions of the epidermis.