title: The multifaceted activity of insect caspases.
abstract: Caspases are frequently considered synonymous with apoptotic cell death. Increasing evidence demonstrates that these proteases may exert their activities in non-apoptotic functions. The non-apoptotic roles of caspases may include developmentally regulated autophagy during insect metamorphosis, as well as neuroblast self-renewal and the immune response. Here, we summarize the established knowledge and the recent advances in the multiple roles of insect caspases to highlight their relevance for physiological processes and survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Accorsi
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zibaee
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. Electronic address: davide.malagoli@unimore.it.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Malagoli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D001343:Autophagy / Q000502:physiology; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D007313:Insecta / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D020169:Caspases
keywords: Autophagy; Cell death; Insect evolution; Non-apoptotic caspase