ROLE OF ICE-RELATED AND OTHER PROTEASES IN FAS-MEDIATED APOPTOSIS

Interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme (ICE)-like proteases comprise a n ovel family of unusual cysteine proteases which have been implicated i n programmed cell death in both invertebrates and mammals. Current ava ilable evidence indicates a role of ICE proteases as central execution ers of apoptosis triggered by the cell surface receptor Fas (APO-1). T he presence of multiple mammalian ICE proteases with partially overlap ping but distinct activities suggests a complex proteolytic cascade wh ich is induced upon Fas ligation. The precise role of single members o f the ICE family in Fas-mediated apoptosis, however, is still unclear. Here, we summarize the present knowledge about the relevance of ICE p roteases, their potential targets, and interaction with unrelated prot eases in cell death mediated by Fas and other apoptotic stimuli.