A cysteine protease involved in apoptosis
Caspase-7 (also know as Mch3, ICE-LAP3, CMH-1) is a member of the caspase-family of cysteine proteases
The recombinant active human caspase-7 was expressed in E. coli. The active caspase-7 is routinely tested at BioVision for its ability to enzymatically cleave these two substrates Ac-DEVD-pNA (Cat. #1008-200) or Ac-DEVD-AFC (1007-200).
Similar to other caspases, caspase-7 also exists in cells as an inactive proenzyme. During apoptosis procaspase-7 is processed at aspartate residues by self-proteolysis and/or cleavage by another caspase. The processed active form of caspase-7 consists of large and small subunits which associate to form the active enzyme. Active caspase-7 has been shown involving in the proteolysis of PARP (poly ADP-ribose polymerase), an enzyme that is involved in DNA repair and genomic maintenance.