Caspase 2 (CASPASE-2) ELISA Kit for Rat

This gene encodes the evolutionarily ancient and most conserved member of the cysteine proteases that plays important role in stress-induced apoptosis, DNA repair and tumor suppression. Mice lacking the encoded protein develop normally but display cell type-specific apoptotic defects. Germ cells and oocytes from such mice were found to be resistant to cell death after treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs. [provided by RefSeq, Apr 2015]

CASP2: Involved in the activation cascade of caspases responsible for apoptosis execution. Might function by either activating some proteins required for cell death or inactivating proteins necessary for cell survival. Heterotetramer that consists of two anti-parallel arranged heterodimers, each one formed by a p18 subunit and a p12 subunit. Interacts with LRDD. Expressed at higher levels in the embryonic lung, liver and kidney than in the heart and brain. In adults, higher level expression is seen in the placenta, lung, kidney, and pancreas than in the heart, brain, liver and skeletal muscle. Belongs to the peptidase C14A family. 2 isoforms of the human protein are produced by alternative splicing.

Protein type: EC 3.4.22.55; Apoptosis; Protease

Cellular Component: mitochondrion; membrane; cytoplasm; intracellular; nucleus

Molecular Function: peptidase activity; protein domain specific binding; protein binding; hydrolase activity; cysteine-type endopeptidase activity; cysteine-type peptidase activity

Biological Process: regulation of apoptosis; caspase activation; DNA damage response, signal transduction resulting in induction of apoptosis; positive regulation of apoptosis; apoptosis; positive regulation of neuron apoptosis; germ cell programmed cell death; protein processing; proteolysis; DNA damage response, signal transduction by p53 class mediator resulting in cell cycle arrest; negative regulation of apoptosis