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The role of caspases as executioners of apoptosis

Sharad Kumar1, Loretta Dorstyn1, Yoon Lim1

  • 1Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.

Biochemical Society Transactions
|December 23, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Caspases, or cysteine aspartyl proteases, are key regulators of programmed cell death (apoptosis). This review details their roles, activation, and targets in orchestrating apoptosis.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Caspases are cysteine proteases crucial for cellular processes.
  • Their primary roles include regulating apoptosis and inflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the evolutionarily conserved functions of caspases in apoptosis.
  • To detail the specific caspases involved, their activation and regulation mechanisms, and their cleavage substrates.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on caspases and apoptosis.
  • Focus on conserved mechanisms across different species.

Main Results:

  • Identifies key caspases instrumental in apoptosis execution.
  • Explains the intricate activation and regulatory pathways governing caspase activity.
  • Lists critical protein substrates targeted by caspases during apoptosis.

Conclusions:

  • Caspases are essential effectors of apoptosis, executing programmed cell death through specific substrate cleavage.
  • Understanding caspase function is vital for comprehending cellular fate and inflammatory responses.
Keywords:
PIDDosomeapoptosomecaspase substratescaspase-2death-induced signalling complex

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