caspáz
Caspases are a family of cysteine-dependent aspartate-specific proteases, which play a crucial role in programmed cell death, also known as apoptosis. They are classified into two main categories: initiator caspases and executioner caspases. Initiator caspases, such as caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-10, are activated in response to various death signals and initiate the apoptotic cascade. Executioner caspases, like caspase-3, caspase-6, and caspase-7, are activated downstream of initiator caspases and directly execute cell death by cleaving various cellular substrates.
Caspases are typically inactive in the cytoplasm as zymogens, which are precursor proteins that require processing
Caspases are involved in various physiological and pathological processes, including immune response, tissue remodeling, and disease