Caspase 7

Caspase-7, apoptosis-related cysteine peptidase, also known as CASP7, is a human protein encoded by the CASP7 is_associated_with::gene. CASP7 is_associated_with::orthologs have been identified in nearly all is_associated_with::mammals for which complete genome data are available. Unique orthologs are also present in is_associated_with::birds, is_associated_with::lizards, is_associated_with::lissamphibians, and is_associated_with::teleosts.

Function
Caspase-7 is a member of the is_associated_with::caspase (cysteine aspartate protease) family of proteins, and has been shown to be an executioner protein of is_associated_with::apoptosis. Sequential activation of caspases plays a central role in the execution-phase of cell is_associated_with::apoptosis. Caspases exist as inactive is_associated_with::proenzymes that undergo proteolytic processing by upstream caspases (caspase-8, -9) at conserved aspartic residues to produce two subunits, large and small, that dimerize to form the active enzyme in the form of a heterotetramer. The precursor of this caspase is cleaved by caspase 3, caspase 10, and caspase 9. It is activated upon cell death stimuli and induces apoptosis. is_associated_with::Alternative splicing results in four transcript variants, encoding three distinct is_associated_with::isoforms.

Interactions
Caspase 7 has been shown to interact with:
 * is_associated_with::Caspase 8,
 * is_associated_with::Survivin  and
 * is_associated_with::XIAP.