Caspase (CASP) are cysteine-aspartic proteases (see Protease) which function in apoptosis, necrosis and inflammation. Twelve CASP have been identified in human. CASP is synthesized as an inactive pro-CASP with a prodomain which is being cleaved off to render them active. The X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) with its baculoviral IAP repeat (BIR) domain is an inhibitor of CASP. The CASP recruitment domain (CARD) mediates signaling events that are associated with various human diseases including cancer, neuro-degenerative diseases and immune disorders[1].
- CASP-1 (or Interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme, ICE) cleaves precursor cytokine interleukin 1-β and interleukin 18 into mature protein. See:
Human Caspase-1
- CASP-3 or (Apopain; Cysteine protease CPP32) interacts with CASP-8 and CASP-9 during cell apoptosis. See:
Sandox Bay Serrano
Student Projects for UMass Chemistry 423 Spring 2012-5
Caspase-3 Regulatory Mechanisms
- CASP-4 binds the lipid moiety of lipopolysaccharide to induce the activation of non-canonical inflammasome[2].
- CASP-6 is involved in the activation of cascade of caspases during apoptosis. See:
Molecular Playground/Caspase-6 (new)
Caspase-6 and neurodegeneration
- CASP-7 is a heterodimer consisting of P20 (human residues 1-198) and P11 (human residues 199-303) subunits. CASP-7 catalytic domain consists of residues 57-303. is an important initiator CASP and drICE is an effector of apoptosis CASP in Drosophila melanogaster. See:
Molecular Playground/Caspase-7 Dynamics
Molecular Playground/Executioner Caspase-7
- CASP-9 is an aspartic protease linked to mitochondrial death pathway. See:
Molecular Playground/Caspase-9 Regulation.
- Metacaspase (MCASP) are arginine/lysine specific CASP. MCASP are found in plants and fungi.
[3][4]
3D structures of caspase
Caspase 3D structures
- ↑ Park HH. Caspase recruitment domains for protein interactions in cellular signaling (Review). Int J Mol Med. 2019 Mar;43(3):1119-1127. doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2019.4060. Epub 2019, Jan 11. PMID:30664151 doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2019.4060
- ↑ Lagrange B, Benaoudia S, Wallet P, Magnotti F, Provost A, Michal F, Martin A, Di Lorenzo F, Py BF, Molinaro A, Henry T. Human caspase-4 detects tetra-acylated LPS and cytosolic Francisella and functions differently from murine caspase-11. Nat Commun. 2018 Jan 16;9(1):242. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-02682-y. PMID:29339744 doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-02682-y
- ↑ Schweizer A, Briand C, Grutter MG. Crystal structure of caspase-2, apical initiator of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. J Biol Chem. 2003 Oct 24;278(43):42441-7. Epub 2003 Aug 14. PMID:12920126 doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M304895200
- ↑ Wilson KP, Black JA, Thomson JA, Kim EE, Griffith JP, Navia MA, Murcko MA, Chambers SP, Aldape RA, Raybuck SA, et al.. Structure and mechanism of interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme. Nature. 1994 Jul 28;370(6487):270-5. PMID:8035875 doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/370270a0
