This gene encodes a protein that is a member of the cysteine-aspartic acid protease (caspase) family. Sequential activation of caspases plays a central role in the execution-phase of cell apoptosis. Caspases exist as inactive proenzymes composed of a prodomain and a large and small protease subunit. Activation of caspases requires proteolytic processing at conserved internal aspartic residues to generate a heterodimeric enzyme consisting of the large and small subunits. This caspase is able to cleave and activate its own precursor protein, as well as caspase 1 precursor. When overexpressed, this gene induces cell apoptosis. Alternative splicing results in transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008],catalytic activity:Strict requirement for Asp at the P1 position. It has a preferred cleavage sequence of Tyr-Val-Ala-Asp-|- but also cleaves at Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-|-.,function:Involved in the activation cascade of caspases responsible for apoptosis execution. Cleaves caspase-1.,PTM:The two subunits are derived from the precursor sequence by an autocatalytic mechanism or by cleavage by Caspase-8.,similarity:Belongs to the peptidase C14A family.,similarity:Contains 1 CARD domain.,subunit:Heterotetramer that consists of two anti-parallel arranged heterodimers, each one formed by a small and a large subunit.,tissue specificity:Widely expressed, with highest levels in spleen and lung. Moderate expression in heart and liver, low expression in skeletal muscle, kidney and testis. Not found in the brain.,