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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...

Acute Pancreatitis II: Pathophysiology

Acute Pancreatitis II: Pathophysiology

The pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis centers on injury to pancreatic acinar cells, which initiates a cascade of harmful intracellular events.This injury leads to premature activation of trypsinogen to trypsin in the pancreas. Trypsin then activates other digestive enzymes, such as chymotrypsin, elastase, and phospholipase A2, which begin breaking down pancreatic tissue. The resulting autodigestion causes local inflammation, tissue swelling, hemorrhage, and fat necrosis.Injured acinar cells...

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...

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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 10, 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-2: what do we know today?].

V I Aksenova, O V Bylino, B D Zhivotovskiĭ

Molekuliarnaia Biologiia

|July 2, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This review explores the enigmatic caspase-2 protease, crucial for programmed cell death (apoptosis). We examine its diverse signaling pathways and potential roles in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

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Last Updated: May 10, 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

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

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

Published on: October 13, 2022

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

Area of Science:

Cellular Biology
Biochemistry

Context:

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is vital for multicellular organisms, regulating cell differentiation, elimination of damaged cells, and immune homeostasis.
Caspase-2 is an enigmatic protease involved in apoptosis, activated by genotoxic stress, death receptor ligation, ER stress, and metabolic changes.

Purpose:

This review focuses on the diverse signal transduction mechanisms of caspase-2.
To analyze the various functions of caspase-2 and its role in apoptosis.

Summary:

Caspase-2 activation is triggered by multiple stressors, including genotoxic stress and ER stress.
This protease acts as a tumor suppressor and is implicated in oxidative stress responses and neurodegeneration, particularly in ischemic brain damage.
The unique signaling pathways of caspase-2 differentiate it from other caspases, highlighting its prominent role in apoptosis.

Impact:

Understanding caspase-2's functions can lead to advanced applications in oncology and medicine.
Potential therapeutic strategies targeting caspase-2 for cancer treatment and neuroprotection.