title: Non-caspase proteases: triggers or amplifiers of apoptosis?
abstract: Caspases are the most important effectors of apoptosis, the major form of programmed cell death (PCD) in multicellular organisms. This is best reflected by the appearance of serious development defects in mice deficient for caspase-8, -9, and -3. Meanwhile, caspase-independent PCD, mediated by other proteases or signaling components has been described in numerous publications. Although we do not doubt that such cell death exists, we propose that it has evolved later during evolution and is most likely not designed to execute, but to amplify and speed-up caspase-dependent cell death. This review shall provide evidence for such a concept.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research (ZBMZ), Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg, Stefan Meier Str. 17, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schrader
authors.forename: Jisen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huai
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jöckel
authors.forename: Carolin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oberle
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D020169:Caspases