Editing Apoptosis (section)

==== Caspases ====
[[Caspase]]s  play the central role in the transduction of ER apoptotic signals. Caspases are proteins that are highly conserved, cysteine-dependent aspartate-specific proteases. There are two types of caspases: initiator caspases (caspases 2, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12) and effector caspases (caspases 3, 6, and 7). The activation of initiator caspases requires binding to specific oligomeric [[APAF1|activator protein]]. Effector caspases are then activated by these active initiator caspases through [[Proteolysis|proteolytic]] cleavage. The active effector caspases then proteolytically degrade a host of intracellular proteins to carry out the cell death program.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}