Caspase-2 (CASP2) Antibody – Rat Monoclonal

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]

Function: 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. May be important in multistep carcinogenesis.

Catalytic activity: Strict requirement for an Asp residue at P1, with 316-asp being essential for proteolytic activity and has a preferred cleavage sequence of Val-Asp-Val-Ala-Asp-|-.

Subunit structure: Heterotetramer that consists of two anti-parallel arranged heterodimers, each one formed by a p18 subunit and a p12 subunit. Interacts with LRDD

By similarity.

Tissue specificity: High level expression seen in the embryonic CNS, liver, lung, kidney, small intestine, and hair follicles of vibrissae. Moderate expression seen in the skin, oral mucosa, skeletal muscle, submandibular gland and thymus. In the adult, it is highly expressed in spleen, lung and kidney. Moderately in the brain, heart, testis, liver. Low levels in the thymus, skeletal muscle, ovary and gut.

Developmental stage: During embryonic development is highly expressed in several types of mouse tissue undergoing high rates of programmed cell death such as central nervous system and kidney.

Post-translational modification: The mature protease can process its own propeptide, but not that of other caspases

By similarity.

Sequence similarities: Belongs to the peptidase C14A family.Contains 1 CARD domain.