Caspase-2

Caspase-2 is an enzyme involved in the programmed cell death process and one of the best-conserved caspases across species. Caspase-2 is unique among caspases in that it has features of both initiator and effector caspases. Two different mRNA species, derived from alternative splicing, encode two proteins, caspase-2L(435 amino acids) and caspase- 2S(312 amino acids), which have antagonistic effects on cell death although it is not clear that the shorter form is expressed as a protein. Caspase-2 appears to be necessary for the onset of apoptosis triggered by several insults, including DNA damage, administration of TNF, and different pathogens and viruses.