Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 2 of 2
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Allosteric Regulation Of Caspase-6 Proteolytic Activity, Elih M. Velazquez-Delgado
Allosteric Regulation Of Caspase-6 Proteolytic Activity, Elih M. Velazquez-Delgado
Open Access Dissertations
Caspases are cysteine proteases best known for their controlling roles in apoptosis and inflammation. Caspase-6 has recently been shown to play a key role in the cleavage of neurodegenerative substrates that causes Huntington and Alzheimer's Disease, heightening interest in caspase-6 and making it a drug target. All thirteen human caspases have related specificities for binding and cleaving substrate, so achieving caspase-specific regulation at the active site has been extremely challenging if not impossible. We have determined the structures of four unliganded forms of caspase-6, which attain a novel helical structure not observed in any other caspases. In this conformation, rotation …
Caspase-7 Loop Conformations As A Means Of Allosteric Control, Witold Andrej Witkowski
Caspase-7 Loop Conformations As A Means Of Allosteric Control, Witold Andrej Witkowski
Open Access Dissertations
The caspase family of proteins is critical to biological understanding, because they serve as the final arbiters of life and death, being the initiators and executioners of cell death. Specifically, caspase-7 plays a key role in apoptosis, however its full complement of targets within the cell has not yet been elucidated, nor has its function been targeted by drug design efforts. These factors stem from the lack of fundamental understanding of the structural dynamics of the protein, including the mobile loops that constitute the active site binding groove of caspase-7, and their ability to modulate the function of the protein. …