ScholarLens Back to search
2002•Progress in physiologyRequires access

Activation and function of caspases in apoptosis

Changqing Yuan, Zhenhua Ding

Open publisher page 1 citations

Abstract

Caspases are the key executioners of apoptosis. Up to now at least 14 mammalian caspases have been identified. Caspases are synthesized as zymogens that have very low catalytic activity. The zymogens can be activated and active caspases specifically cleavage a set of substrates and then lead to apoptosis. There are at least three distinct apoptosis pathways involved in caspases: mitochondrial/cytochrome C, death-receptor and endoplasmic reticulum-mediated apoptosis pathways. Caspases and their inhibitors always coexist lest that caspases are activated accidentally and hurt the normal cells.

About this research paper

What this paper is about

Caspases are the key executioners of apoptosis. Up to now at least 14 mammalian caspases have been identified. Caspases are synthesized as zymogens that have very low catalytic activity. The zymogens can be activated and active caspases specifically cleavage a set of substrates and then lead to apoptosis. There are at least three distinct apoptosis pathways involved in caspases: mitochondrial/cytochrome C, death-receptor and endoplasmic reticulum-mediated apoptosis pathways. Caspases and their inhibitors always coexist lest that caspases are activated accidentally and hurt the normal cells.

Why it matters

OpenAlex reports 1 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

Key contribution

A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Method / approach

Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Main findings

Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Limitations

Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Applications

Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Available abstract

Caspases are the key executioners of apoptosis. Up to now at least 14 mammalian caspases have been identified. Caspases are synthesized as zymogens that have very low catalytic activity. The zymogens can be activated and active caspases specifically cleavage a set of substrates and then lead to apoptosis. There are at least three distinct apoptosis pathways involved in caspases: mitochondrial/cytochrome C, death-receptor and endoplasmic reticulum-mediated apoptosis pathways. Caspases and their inhibitors always coexist lest that caspases are activated accidentally and hurt the normal cells.

Key concepts: Caspase, Apoptosis, Intrinsic apoptosis, Cell biology, Cytochrome c, Biology, XIAP, Chemistry

Related papers

Related paper 1Related paper 2Related paper 3
Back to paper searchBrowse research topicsOriginal source
Activation and function of caspases in apoptosis — Research Paper | ScholarLens