Caspase-1 (also know as ICE) is a prototypical member of the caspase-family of cysteine proteases. Caspase-1 exists in cells as an inactive 45 kDa proenzyme. The pro-enzyme is matured by proteolysis to yield large (20 kD) and small (10 kD) subunits.
The active caspase-1 is a heterotetramer consisting of two large and two small subunits. To date the regulatory mechanism of caspase-1 activation and the role of caspase-1 in apoptosis are poorly understood. In THP-1 cells, a large proportion of the caspase-1 is present in the inactive proenzyme form. The recombinant active mouse caspase-1 was expressed in E. coli.
Alternative names: Active mouse caspase-1, caspase-1 enzyme, caspase-1, mouse caspase-1, mouse caspases, active caspases, caspase-1 assay positive control.