Caspase: A Cysteine Protease for Cancer Therapy

Caspases, a class of cysteine proteases, perform apoptosis in cells as dormant zymogens. When apoptosis begins, caspases, which are dormant zymogens in the cells, operate as catalytic activators. Caspases play a pivotal role in apoptotic neuronal death, responsible for brain damage. Mammalian caspases are categorized into initiator caspases, inflammatory caspases, and executioner caspases. They cause a metabolic chain reaction when they are mutually activated. The first caspases to be activated are initiator caspases, which cleave several structural and regulatory proteins needed to break down the cell. Initiator and effector caspases are the two types of caspases involved in apoptosis. Sluggish zymogens include whole caspases, which need to be triggered to function. An initiator caspase is activated during the apoptotic process.