Aspasing Out Metacaspases and Caspases: Proteases of Many Trades

Peter V. Bozhkov*, Andrei P. Smertenko, Boris Zhivotovsky

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Execution of programmed cell death (PCD) in nonmetazoan organisms is morphologically different from apoptotic PCD in animals and lacks a number of key molecular components of apoptotic machinery, including caspases. Yet protozoan, fungal, and plant cells exhibit caspase-like proteolytic activities, which increase in a PCD-dependent manner. This poses a question whether nonmetazoan organisms contain structurally dissimilar proteases that functionally substitute for caspases. Putative ancestors of caspases, metacaspases, are candidates for this role; however, their distinct substrate specificity raises doubts. The identification of a common biological target of caspases and metacaspases and previously unknown functions unrelated to cell death of metacaspases provide new food for thought.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberARTN pe48
Number of pages3
JournalScience Signaling
Volume3
Issue number152
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Dec 2010

Keywords

  • PROGRAMMED CELL-DEATH
  • LIFE
  • PLANT EMBRYOGENESIS
  • REGULATES APOPTOSIS
  • NUCLEASE
  • DOUBT
  • NO
  • SPECIFICITY
  • YEAST

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