Caspase structure, proteolytic substrates, and function during apoptotic cell death.

D W Nicholson

doi:10.1038/sj.cdd.4400598

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Caspase structure, proteolytic substrates, and function during apoptotic cell death.

D W Nicholson

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Abstract

Caspases play an essential role during apoptotic cell death. These enzymes define a new class of cysteine proteases and comprise a multi-gene family with more than a dozen distinct mammalian family members. The discrete and highly limited subset of cellular polypeptides that are cleaved by these proteases is sufficient to account for the majority of cellular and morphological events that occur during cell death. In some cases, caspases also play a contributory role in escalating the propensity for apoptosis, and in doing so may exacerbate disease pathogenesis.

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Amino Acid Sequence Animals Apoptosis Binding Sites Caspase 1 Caspase Inhibitors Caspases Enzyme Activation Humans Molecular Sequence Data Substrate Specificity Journal Article Review

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D W Nicholson. 1999. Caspase structure, proteolytic substrates, and function during apoptotic cell death.. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.cdd.4400598

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