Biomimetic models for cysteine proteases. 2. Nucleophilic thiolate-containing zwitterions produced from imidazole-thiol pairs. A model for the acylation step in papain

1985 ◽  
Vol 107 (13) ◽  
pp. 4070-4072 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. I. Skorey ◽  
R. S. Brown
2002 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 9-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy S Salvesen

The ability of metazoan cells to undergo programmed cell death is vital to both the precise development and long-term survival of the mature adult. Cell deaths that result from engagement of this programme end in apoptosis, the ordered dismantling of the cell that results in its 'silent' demise, in which packaged cell fragments are removed by phagocytosis. This co-ordinated demise is mediated by members of a family of cysteine proteases known as caspases, whose activation follows characteristic apoptotic stimuli, and whose substrates include many proteins, the limited cleavage of which causes the characteristic morphology of apoptosis. In vertebrates, a subset of caspases has evolved to participate in the activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and thus members of the caspase family participate in one of two very distinct intracellular signalling pathways.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document