Caspase-Dependent Apoptosis

Cancer Terms -> Biological Process -> Cellular Process -> Cell Viability Process -> Cell Death -> Mechanism of Cell Death -> Caspase-Dependent Apoptosis

Caspase-Dependent Apoptosis Definition

Characterized by distinctive nuclear and cytoplasmic morphologic changes, Caspase-Dependent Apoptosis is an active and selective process of cell destruction in multicellular organisms that involves the activity of intracellular cysteine endopeptidase family members kept inactive by mitochondrial surface proteins (BcL-2 Family) and involved in initial signaling and downstream proteolytic cleavages (at P1 aspartic acids) in apoptotic cell death when signals block BcL-2 function and activators initiate caspase cascades.