Family of proteases involved in processing of IL-1 b and in apoptosis. See Table C1.
Type: Term Pronunciation: kas′pās-ĕz Definitions: 1. Proteolytic cleavage products of the protein's procaspases that are responsible for cleaving and activation of additional procaspases into more caspases, thus resulting in a cascade of proteolytic activity the final result of which is apoptosis of the cell.
A family of cysteine proteases involved in generating apoptosis.