Caspase 9 Proteins

Protein Information

Caspase 9 (ICE-like apoptotic protease 6, ICE LAP6, apoptotic protease Mch6, apoptotic protease activating factor 3, Apaf3) is a member of the peptidase family C14 that contains a CARD domain. Caspases are cysteine proteases, expressed as inactive precursors, that mediate apoptosis by proteolysis of specific substrates. Caspase 9 is active as a heterotetramer, is present in the cytosol and, upon activation, translocates to the mitochondria. Caspase 9 is involved in the caspase activation cascade responsible for apoptosis execution and cleaves/activates Caspase 3 and Caspase 6. Further, Caspase 9 is involved in the activation cascade of caspases responsible for apoptosis execution. Binding of caspase-9 to Apaf- 1 leads to activation of the protease which then cleaves and activates caspase-3. Caspase 9 promotes DNA damage-induced apoptosis in a ABL1/c-Abl-dependent manner, and proteolytically cleaves poly(ADP- ribose) polymerase (PARP). Caspase 9 is expressed in variety of human tissues. An isoform of rat Caspase-9 has been identified in which the C terminus of full-length Caspase-9 is replaced with an alternative peptide sequence. Mutations in Caspase 9 affect brain development. In mice, insufficient Caspase 9 have resulted in abnormal cerebrum development and neuron development. In humans, dysfunctional Caspase 9 expression vary from tissue to tissue. Low levels of Caspase 9 may play a role in cancer development and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).

Synonyms

25 kDa caspase-9 dominant negative protein; AI115399; APAF3; APAF-3; apoptotic protease activating factor 3; apoptotic protease MCH-6; Apoptotic protease-activating factor 3; AW493809; cas9; CASP 9; CASP9; CASP-9; Casp9_v1; Casp-9-CTD; caspase 9; caspase 9, apoptosis-related cysteine peptidase; caspase 9, apoptosis-related cysteine protease; Caspase9; caspase-9; caspase-9 dominant negative form; Caspase-9 precursor; Caspase-9 subunit p10; Caspase-9 subunit p35; CASPASE-9c; caspase-9-carboxyl-terminal divergent; CTD; Ice-Lap6; ICE-like apoptotic protease 6; Mch6; OTTHUMP00000002324; PPP1R56; protein phosphatase 1, regulatory subunit 56; RNCASP9; RP11-265F14.3