Human Caspase-1: Difference between revisions
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Caspases (cysteine-aspartic proteases) are proteolytic enzymes that play essential roles in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apoptosis apoptosis], development, inflammation, and the immune system. As the name suggests, caspases cleave proteins on the C-side of aspartic acid residues. As of now, around 15 caspases have been identified in two categories, inflammatory (in which caspase-1 is classified) and apoptotic. Apoptotic caspases are further divided into initiator (apical) caspases and effector (executioner) caspases. Initiator caspases cleave and activate effector caspases, which in turn start apoptosis by cleaving other proteins in a cascade reaction. Faulty or premature apoptosis is a main component of autoimmune diseases, leading to research into caspase inhibitors to treat diseases like Alzheimer's. Inflammatory caspases on the other hand usually work by proteolytically activating cytokines, leading to a different kind of cell mediated death called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyroptosis pyroptosis]. | Caspases (cysteine-aspartic proteases) are proteolytic enzymes that play essential roles in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apoptosis apoptosis], development, inflammation, and the immune system. As the name suggests, caspases cleave proteins on the C-side of aspartic acid residues. As of now, around 15 caspases have been identified in two categories, inflammatory (in which caspase-1 is classified) and apoptotic. Apoptotic caspases are further divided into initiator (apical) caspases and effector (executioner) caspases. Initiator caspases cleave and activate effector caspases, which in turn start apoptosis by cleaving other proteins in a cascade reaction. Faulty or premature apoptosis is a main component of autoimmune diseases, leading to research into caspase inhibitors to treat diseases like Alzheimer's. Inflammatory caspases on the other hand usually work by proteolytically activating cytokines, leading to a different kind of cell mediated death called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyroptosis pyroptosis]. | ||
[[image:Caspase-1_Zymogen.jpg|thumb| | [[image:Caspase-1_Zymogen.jpg|thumb|left|200px|'''Human Caspase-1 Zymogen''']] | ||
==Activation and Regulation== | ==Activation and Regulation== | ||