Caspases are a family of evolutionary conserved proteins essential for programmed cell death, or apoptosis, acting as both initiators and executioners of this process. They play a pivotal role in maintaining cellular homeostasis, regulating the delicate balance between cell survival and death.
The family consists of three functional groups: initiator caspases (caspase 2, 8, 9, and 10), executioner caspases (caspase 3, 6, and 7), and inflammatory caspases (caspase 1, 4, 5, 11, and 12).
Understanding the intricacies of caspase biology holds profound implications for therapeutic interventions. Targeting these enzymes offers a promising avenue for the treatment of diseases characterized by aberrant cell survival or death, providing a tantalizing glimpse into the future of precision medicine.
We have kits for the detection of: caspase-1 (YVAD or WEHD) (also recognizes caspases 4 and 5), -2 (VDVAD), -3/7 (DEVD), -6 (VEID), -8 (LETD), -9 (LEHD), and -10 (AEVD).