title: Caspases: key players in programmed cell death.
abstract: Research in apoptosis has established a central role for caspases. The recent determination of structures of caspase-1, caspase-3 and caspase-8, together with biochemical studies, has greatly enhanced our understanding of the structure, function and specificity of these enzymes. This provides a basis for the further elucidation of the biological role of caspases and a guide to the design of selective inhibitors to treat caspase-mediated diseases.
authors: Institute of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland. gruetter@biocfebs.unizh.ch
authors: M G
authors: MG
authors: Grütter
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D020169:Caspases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D015195:Drug Design; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D020169:Caspases