Caspase-4 (CASP4) Recombinant Protein

This gene encodes a protein that 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 composed of a prodomain and a large and small protease subunit. Activation of caspases requires proteolytic processing at conserved internal aspartic residues to generate a heterodimeric enzyme consisting of the large and small subunits. This caspase is able to cleave and activate its own precursor protein, as well as caspase 1 precursor. When overexpressed, this gene induces cell apoptosis. Alternative splicing results in transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

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: Apoptosis; Protease; EC 3.4.22.64

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