Caspases: Their Role in Cell Death and Cell Survival

The volume offers insight into the key research topics that involve caspases. Leading experts from various areas of biology and medicine have compiled this volume so that both the novice and the professional will use this as the main reference for caspases for years to come. The reader will learn about the role of caspases in apoptosis signaling, inflammation and cancer therapy while being updated on the methodology used to study caspases and the efforts of pharmaceutical research in targeting caspases.

Preface. 1. The Caspase Family. - 2. Caspase Cascades in Apoptosis. - 3. Caspase Activation at the TNF-R Family Members Death Inducing Signaling Complexes (DISCs. - 4. Mitochondrial/Apoptosome Dependent Activation of Caspases. - 5. Modulation of Caspase Activity by Cellular Inhibitors. - 6. Virus-Encoded Caspase Inhibitors. - 7. Apoptosis Dependent and Independent Functions of Caspases. - 8. the Role of Caspases in Modulation of Cytokines and Other Molecules in Apoptosis and Inflammation. - 9. Caspases, Bcl-2 Family Proteins and Other Components of the Death Machinery: Their Role in the Regulation of the Immune Response. - 10. Learning from Deficiency: Gene Targeting of Caspases. - 11. Caspase Activation in Cancer Therapy. - 12. In Situ Activation of Caspases Revealed by Affinity Labeling Their Enzymatic Sites. - 13. Other Methods of Caspase Activity Monitoring. - 14. Caspases as Targets for Drug Development. - 15. Caspase-Independent Cell Death Mechanisms. - Index.