Caspases

Helpers in Apoptosis

Caspases are designed to break proteins into bite-sized pieces, but the cell needs help to break down its other molecules. Cells also have a number of caspase-activated proteins to do this work. The one shown here, from PDB entry 1v0d and 1c9f, is caspase-activated deoxyribonuclease. During apoptosis, caspases break up an inhibitory protein that binds to the two large domains at the bottom, creating the active form. DNA slides into the large groove at the top and the active site amino acids, shown here in green, clip it into small pieces.

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Last changed by: A.Honegger, 8/4/06