ICE CED-3 PROTEASES IN APOPTOSIS

An expanding family of cysteine proteases, of which interleukin-1 beta -converting enzyme (ICE) is the prototype, has been shown to play a ke y role in mammalian cell apoptosis. ICE is both a structural and funct ional homologue of the nematode 'death gene' ced-3. Here, Moira Whyte discusses how functional characterization of these ICE-like proteases and identification of their substrates is helping to elucidate the bio chemical processes underlying the stereotyped morphology of apoptosis and to identify potential targets for therapy.