Caspase-2

By Victoria Osinski

Caspase-2 is a highly conserved member of the caspase family involved in the initiation and execution of apoptosis. While its function is still poorly understood, caspase-2 is thought to be important for apoptosis in response to DNA damage, bacterial infection, or abnormal mitosis (1). Caspase-2 contains an N-terminal caspase recruitment domain, the large p19 subunit containing the active site, and the small C-terminal p12 subunit (1). In response to various apoptotic signals caspase-2 undergoes dimerization.

During cellular stress the protein folding capacity of the ER is diminished. In order to maintain homeostasis and ensure proper protein folding cells activate the unfolded protein response (UPR), a signaling network consisting of sensors and effectors to enhance the chaperone activity of the cell, increase degradation of accumulated proteins, and/or trigger apoptosis.  Inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1), an ER-transmembrane protein, is an essential component of the UPR pathway important for sensing and responding to ER stress.