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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.

Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy

Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy

Cells respond to damage and stress through highly coordinated processes that decide whether they survive or undergo controlled self-destruction. Two major pathways involved in this regulation are apoptosis, a type of programmed cell death, and autophagy, a survival mechanism that helps cells adapt to adverse conditions.ApoptosisApoptosis removes aged or injured cells to maintain tissue balance. During this process, the cell shrinks, chromatin condenses and fragments, and membrane-bound...

Overview of Cell Death

Overview of Cell Death

Cell death is an essential process where the body gets rid of old or damaged cells. Cell proliferation and death need to be balanced, as an imbalance between the two may lead to cancer or autoimmune diseases.
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the 20th century...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 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

Putative functions of caspase-2.

Loretta Dorstyn¹, Sharad Kumar

¹Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology Frome Road, Adelaide, SA 5000 Australia.

F1000 Biology Reports

|October 16, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Caspase-2 (Cellular Apoptosis Related Caspase 2) is vital for DNA repair and cell cycle regulation. Loss of Caspase-2 in mice results in premature aging, highlighting its non-apoptotic roles.

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Last Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Lighting Up the Pathways to Caspase Activation Using Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation

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Published on: March 5, 2018

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Exploring Caspase Mutations and Post-Translational Modification by Molecular Modeling Approaches

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Published on: October 13, 2022

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Cell Biology
Genetics

Background:

Caspase-2 is a highly conserved caspase family member.
Its precise physiological functions remain largely undefined and debated.
Previous research has not fully elucidated its role beyond apoptosis.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the physiological functions of caspase-2.
To explore the non-apoptotic roles of caspase-2 in cellular processes.
To understand the implications of caspase-2 deficiency in vivo.

Main Methods:

Analysis of newly published data and experimental findings.
Investigating the effects of Casp2 deficiency in mouse models.
Assessing cellular processes including DNA repair and cell cycle regulation.

Main Results:

Caspase-2 is essential for regulating the cell cycle.
Caspase-2 plays a role in the repair of damaged DNA.
Loss of Casp2 in mice leads to premature aging phenotypes.
Caspase-2 is involved in suppressing Myc-induced lymphomagenesis.

Conclusions:

Caspase-2 possesses significant non-apoptotic functions.
These functions include cell cycle control and DNA repair.
Caspase-2 deficiency has implications for aging and cancer suppression.