CASP9

CASP9

A gene on chromosome 1p36.21 that encodes a ubiquitous protein belonging to the cysteine-aspartic acid protease (caspase) family which, once activated by proteolytic processing, plays a central role in the execution phase of cell apoptosis. CASP9 is an initiator-type caspase, which is activated by, and interacts with, upstream adaptor molecules through CARD and DED protein–protein interaction domains; it is processed by APAF1, an early step in the caspase activation cascade. It is highly expressed in the heart.