Caspase-9
Caspase-9 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the CASP9 gene. It is an initiator caspase, as opposed to the effector caspases 3, 6, and 7. Caspase-9 is involved in the apoptosis pathway, a cellular process leading to self-destruction of the cell.
Function[edit | edit source]
Caspase-9 belongs to the caspase family of proteins, which play a vital role in apoptosis. The protein is synthesized as an inactive precursor, which undergoes processing by self-proteolysis or by other proteins in the caspase family, to produce an active enzyme.
Caspase-9 is involved in the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis and is activated by a variety of signals including cell stress and developmental cues. Once activated, it cleaves and activates downstream effector caspases leading to apoptosis.
Clinical significance[edit | edit source]
Mutations in the CASP9 gene are associated with cancer and autoimmune diseases. The protein is a potential target for cancer therapy, as its activation leads to cell death.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
Caspase-9 Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Translate to: East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD