Page "Apoptosis" Paragraph 19

Caspase play the central role in the transduction of DR apoptotic signals.

Caspases are proteins that are highly conserved, cysteine-dependent aspartate-specific proteases.

There are two types of caspases: initiator caspases, caspase 8, 10, 9, 2, and effector caspases, caspase 3, 7, 6.

The activation of initiator caspases requires binding to specific oligomeric adaptor protein.

Effector caspases are then activated by these active initiator caspases through proteolytic cleavage.

The active effector caspases then proteolytically degrade a host of intracellular proteins to carry out the cell death program.