Caspase-7 is a apoptosis-related cysteine peptidase, commonly known as CASP7. It is a human protein encoded by the CASP7 gene. CASP7 is a member of the caspase (cysteine aspartate protease) family of proteins and is an executioner protein of apoptosis.
Caspase-3 and -7 plays a central role in the execution-phase of cell apoptosis. The gene for caspase 7 (also known as Mch3, CMH-1 and ICELAP3) encodes a “short” prodomain protein product of 35 kDa that belongs to the Ced3/ICE family of cysteine proteases. Caspase 7 undergoes acleavage upon activation by caspase-3, -9 and -10, and granzyme B, leading to p20 and p12 subunits. It is an important intracellular effector of granzyme B-mediated apoptosis and cytotoxic Tlymphocyte- induced cell killing in vivo. Monoclonal antibodies reacting specifically with caspase 7 are useful tools for the study of protease networks involved in development and regulation and governing the life and death of cells and tissues.
