The three-dimensional structure of caspase-8: an initiator enzyme in apoptosis.
Blanchard, H., Kodandapani, L., Mittl, P.R., Marco, S.D., Krebs, J.F., Wu, J.C., Tomaselli, K.J., Grutter, M.G.(1999) Structure 7: 1125-1133
- PubMed: 10508784 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0969-2126(99)80179-8
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1QDU - PubMed Abstract: 
In the initial stages of Fas-mediated apoptosis the cysteine protease caspase-8 is recruited to the cell receptor as a zymogen (procaspase-8) and is incorporated into the death-signalling complex. Procaspase-8 is subsequently activated leading to a cascade of proteolytic events, one of them being the activation of caspase-3, and ultimately resulting in cell destruction. Variations in the substrate specificity of different caspases have been reported.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Biochemisches Institut Universität Zürich Winterthurer Strasse 190, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland.