Cell Death

Initiator caspases (like caspase-8 and caspase-9) are first activated in response to internal or external death signals.

These then cleave and activate executioner caspases, primarily caspase-3, -6, and -7, which go on to dismantle the cell by cleaving structural proteins, degrading DNA repair enzymes, and activating nucleases.

This tightly regulated cascade ensures that cellular components are broken down in an orderly, non-inflammatory manner.