Description
Caspase-10 (CASP10) is a 521 amino acid protein member of the Cysteine-Aspartic Acid Protease (Caspase) family. CASP10 contains two DED (Death Effector) domains and is detectable in most tissues. CASP10 cleavage by Granzyme B and autocatalytic activity generate the two active subunits: Caspase-10 subunit p23/17, Caspase-10 subunit p12. Caspases are a family of cytosolic aspartate-specific cysteine proteases involved in the execution-phase of cell apoptosis, the initiation and execution. Human caspases can be subdivided into three functional groups: cytokine activation (caspase-1, -4, -5, and -13), apoptosis initiation (caspase-2, -8, -9, -and -10), and apoptosis execution (caspase-3, -6, and -7). CASP10 cleaves and activates caspases 3 and 7, but itself is processed by caspase 8. Defects in CASP10 are associated with apoptosis defects seen in type II autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome