Useful in screening caspase inhibitors, studying enzyme kinetics and regulation, determining target substrates, as well as serving as positive controls in caspase activity assays and Western blot analysis.
Caspase 4 is an inflammatory caspase associated with innate immune responses. It plays a key role in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis. Caspase 4 mediates the fusion of phagosomes containing pathogens with the lysosome. It inhibits pathogen replication, development, and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Caspase 4 induces caspase activation and pyropoptotic death by binding to the intracellular lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of the Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane. This is mediated by the highly specific caspase recruitment domain (CARD).
General description
The caspase 4 (CASP4) gene is mapped to human chromosome 11q21. Caspase 4 is a cysteine-aspartic protease, localized to the outer membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The N-terminus of the enzyme contains a caspase recruitment domain (CARD).
Physical form
Solution in 0.052% ammonium chloride, 0.158% Tris−HCl, and 0.76% sodium chloride
Unit Definition
One unit will hydrolyze 1 nmol of the caspase substrate WEHD-pNA to WEHD and p-nitroaniline per hour at pH 7.2 at 37 °C.