CASP5

CASP5

A gene on chromosome 11q22.2-q22.3 that encodes a protein belonging to the cysteine-aspartic acid protease (caspase) family which, once activated by proteolytic processing, plays a central role in the execution phase of cell apoptosis; overexpression of activated CASP5 induces apoptosis in fibroblasts. CASP5 is an initiator type caspase, which is activated by, and interacts, with upstream adaptor molecules through CARD and DED protein–protein interaction domains; CASP5 expression is regulated by IFN-gamma and lipopolysaccharides.