Caspase 3

Caspase 3 is a protease and belongs to the effector caspases (caspase = acronym for "cysteine aspartyl-specific proteases"). Caspase 3 plays an important role in apoptosis. After activation, it cleaves various proteins and thus enables controlled cell death. Caspase 3 is activated by the enzymes caspase-8 and caspase-9. It is encoded by the CASP3 gene.

In the execution phase of cell apoptosis, the sequential activation of caspases plays a central role. Caspases (see there) exist as inactive proenzymes. Thus, caspase 3 cleaves and activates caspases 6 and 7, and caspase 3 in turn is activated by caspases 8 (caspase 8 cleaves caspases 3,6,and 7) 9 and 10. Caspase 3 is the predominant caspase involved in the cleavage of the amyloid-beta 4A precursor protein (see amyloidoses below). Here, relationships to Alzheimer's disease emerge.