title: Caspase family proteases and apoptosis.
abstract: Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is an essential physiological process that plays a critical role in development and tissue homeostasis. The progress of apoptosis is regulated in an orderly way by a series of signal cascades under certain circumstances. The caspase-cascade system plays vital roles in the induction, transduction and amplification of intracellular apoptotic signals. Caspases, closely associated with apoptosis, are aspartate-specific cysteine proteases and members of the interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme family. The activation and function of caspases, involved in the delicate caspase-cascade system, are regulated by various kinds of molecules, such as the inhibitor of apoptosis protein, Bcl-2 family proteins, calpain, and Ca2+. Based on the latest research, the members of the caspase family, caspase-cascade system and caspase-regulating molecules involved in apoptosis are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: College of Marine Life Sciences, Division of Life Science and Technology, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China. tjfan@ouc.edu.cn
authors.forename: Ting-Jun
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Li-Hui
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Ri-Shan
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Cong
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D020169:Caspases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020169:Caspases