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Targeted disruption of caspase genes in mice: What they tell us about the functions of individual caspases in apoptosis
Author(s) -
Colussi Paul A,
Kumar Sharad
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
immunology and cell biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0818-9641
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1711.1999.00788.x
Subject(s) - caspase , intrinsic apoptosis , apoptosis , proteases , caspase 2 , microbiology and biotechnology , programmed cell death , biology , nlrp1 , genetics , biochemistry , enzyme
Cysteine proteases of the caspase family are crucial mediators of apoptosis. All mammalian cells contain a large number of caspases. Although many caspases are activated in a cell committed to apoptosis, recent data from caspase gene knockout mice suggest that individual caspases may be involved in the cell and stimulus‐specific pathways of cell death. The gene disruption studies also establish the functional hierarchy between two structurally distinct classes of caspases. The present review discusses these recent findings and elaborates on how these mutant mouse models have helped the understanding of the mechanisms that govern programmed cell death in the immune and other systems.