昆虫中分离与鉴定的caspase及其作用

天冬氨酸特异性的半胱氨酸蛋白酶(caspase)家族是执行细胞凋亡的主要酶类,对caspase结构及生物学功能的研究有助于更深入的研究细胞凋亡的分子机制。Caspase具有高度保守性,它们具有相似的氨基酸序列、结构和底物特异性。且具有QACRG的五肽活性位点,该活性位点是caspase家族的典型结构。昆虫caspase在caspase依赖型的细胞凋亡中起关键作用,文章介绍和评述昆虫中已经分离、鉴定的caspase及其功能。

The caspases isolated and identificated in insects and their role in insect apoptosis

Caspase is a rapidly growing family of aspartate-specific cysteine proteases. Advances on caspases structure and its biological functions will contribute to elucidation of mechanisms of apoptosis. Caspases share similarities in amino acid sequence, structure, and substrate specificity. Each caspase contains an active site QAC(X)G pentapeptide. Sequence alignment of amino acids reveals that caspases have great homology. Caspases in insect also play an important role in insect apoptosis. The caspases identified in insects and their structure and biological functions are briefly summerized and reviewed in this paper.