Caspase-2 (, ''ICH-1'', ''NEDD-2'', ''caspase-2L'', ''caspase-2S'', ''neural precursor cell expressed developmentally down-regulated protein 2'', ''CASP-2'', ''NEDD2 protein'') is an

enzyme Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products ...

. This enzyme catalyses the following

chemical reaction A chemical reaction is a process that leads to the IUPAC nomenclature for organic transformations, chemical transformation of one set of chemical substances to another. Classically, chemical reactions encompass changes that only involve the pos ...

: Strict requirement for an Asp residue at P1, with Asp³¹⁶ being essential for

proteolytic Proteolysis is the breakdown of proteins into smaller polypeptides or amino acids. Uncatalysed, the hydrolysis of peptide bonds is extremely slow, taking hundreds of years. Proteolysis is typically catalysed by cellular enzymes called protease ...

activity and has a preferred cleavage sequence of Val-Asp-Val-Ala-Asp- Caspase-2 is an initiator caspase, as are caspase-8 ( EC 3.4.22.61), caspase-9 ( EC 3.4.22.62) and caspase-10 ( EC 3.4.22.63).

References

External links

* {{Portal bar, Biology, border=no EC 3.4.22