Bozhkov, Peter
- Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
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.
Published in
Science Signaling
2010, volume: 3, number: 152, article number: pe48
Publisher: AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE
SLU Authors
UKÄ Subject classification
Biochemistry
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/scisignal.3152pe48
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/59897