Abstract

Metacaspases are cysteine-dependent proteases found in protozoa, fungi and plants and are distantly related to metazoan caspases. Although metacaspases share structural properties with those of caspases, they lack Asp specificity and cleave their targets after Arg or Lys residues. Studies performed over the past 10 years have demonstrated that metacaspases are multifunctional proteases essential for normal physiology of non-metazoan organisms. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the metacaspase function and molecular regulation during programmed cell death, stress and cell proliferation, as well as an analysis of the first metacaspase-mediated proteolytic pathway. To prevent further misapplication of caspase-specific molecular probes for measuring and inhibiting metacaspase activity, we provide a list of probes suitable for metacaspases. Cell Death and Differentiation (2011) 18, 1279-1288; doi:10.1038/cdd.2011.66; published online 20 May 2011

Keywords

metacaspase; substrate specificity; caspase; cell proliferation; protein aggregation; in vivo degradome

Published in

Cell Death and Differentiation
2011, Volume: 18, number: 8, pages: 1279-1288
Publisher: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

SLU Authors

• Zavialov, Anton

  • Department of Molecular Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Bozhkov, Peter

  • Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science
Food Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/cdd.2011.66

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/58980