Definition:

Caspases are a family of conserved Cysteine proteases (CPs) that play key roles in Programmed cell death (PCD) and inflammation. In multicellular organisms, caspases are activated via macromolecular signaling complexes that bring inactive procaspases together and promote their proximity-induced autoactivation and proteolytic processing. Activation of caspases ultimately results in programmed execution of cell death, and the nature of this cell death is determined by the specific caspases involved. Caspases has effect in the regulation of programmed cell death, inflammation, and innate immune responses.