Caspases Group I (CASP1CASP4CASP5) Human Recombinant Protein

This gene encodes a protein which is a member of the cysteine-aspartic acid protease (caspase) family. Sequential activation of caspases plays a central role in the execution-phase of cell apoptosis. Caspases exist as inactive proenzymes which undergo proteolytic processing at conserved aspartic residues to produce 2 subunits, large and small, that dimerize to form the active enzyme. This gene was identified by its ability to proteolytically cleave and activate the inactive precursor of interleukin-1, a cytokine involved in the processes such as inflammation, septic shock, and wound healing. This gene has been shown to induce cell apoptosis and may function in various developmental stages. Studies of a similar gene in mouse suggest a role in the pathogenesis of Huntington disease. Alternative splicing results in transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms. [provided by RefSeq, Mar 2012]

CASP4: Involved in the activation cascade of caspases responsible for apoptosis execution. Cleaves caspase-1. Heterotetramer that consists of two anti-parallel arranged heterodimers, each one formed by a small and a large subunit. Widely expressed, with highest levels in spleen and lung. Moderate expression in heart and liver, low expression in skeletal muscle, kidney and testis. Not found in the brain. Belongs to the peptidase C14A family. 2 isoforms of the human protein are produced by alternative splicing.

Protein type: EC 3.4.22.64; Protease; Apoptosis

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 11q22.2-q22.3

Cellular Component: endoplasmic reticulum membrane; mitochondrion; cytoplasm

Molecular Function: cysteine-type endopeptidase activity

Biological Process: regulation of apoptosis; apoptosis; regulation of inflammatory response; proteolysis