Background
The protein encoded by this gene is a cysteine-aspartic acid protease that plays a central
role in the execution-phase of cell apoptosis. The encoded protein cleaves and inactivates
poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase while it cleaves and activates sterol regulatory element binding
proteins as well as caspases 6, 7, and 9. This protein itself is processed by caspases 8, 9,
and 10. It is the predominant caspase involved in the cleavage of amyloid-beta 4A precursor
protein, which is associated with neuronal death in Alzheimer's disease.
