Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease: caspases and synaptic element interdependence

Table 1 Comparison of the apoptotic caspases.

Caspase	Group	Cleavage Preference¹	Prodomain	Comments
Caspase-2	Initiator	DAVAD	CARD
Caspase-3	Executioner	DEVD	Short
Caspase-6	Executioner	VEVD	Short	Implicated in neurite retraction [4]
Caspase-7	Executioner	DEVD	Short
Caspase-8	Initiator	IETD	DED	Extrinsic pathway
Caspase-9	Initiator	LEHD	CARD	Intrinsic pathway
Caspase-10	Initiator	(similar to caspase-8)	DED	Extrinsic pathway

1. Note that preferences do not exclude cleavage at other sites with Asp in the P1 position, and that the P1' position is also important (see text).

ISSN: 1750-1326