casp7

Transcriptional regulator which displays a remarkable functional diversity in the regulation of cellular responses. Regulates transcription of IFN and IFN-inducible genes, host response to viral and bacterial infections, regulation of many genes expressed during hematopoiesis, inflammation, immune responses and cell proliferation and differentiation, regulation of the cell cycle and induction of growth arrest and programmed cell death following DNA damage. Stimulates both innate and acquired immune responses through the activation of specific target genes and can act as a transcriptional activator and repressor regulating target genes by binding to an interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE) in their promoters. Competes with the transcriptional repressor ZBED2 for binding to a common consensus sequence in gene promoters. Its target genes for transcriptional activation activity include: genes involved in anti-viral response, such as IFN-alpha beta, DDX58 RIG-I, TNFSF10 TRAIL, ZBP1, OAS1 2, PIAS1 GBP, EIF2AK2 PKR and RSAD2 viperin; antibacterial response, such as NOS2 INOS; anti-proliferative response, such as p53 TP53, LOX and CDKN1A; apoptosis, such as BBC3 PUMA, CASP1, CASP7 and CASP8; immune response, such as IL7, IL12A B and IL15, PTGS2 COX2 and CYBB; DNA damage responses and DNA repair, such as POLQ POLH; MHC class I expression, such as TAP1, PSMB9 LMP2, PSME1 PA28A, PSME2 PA28B and B2M and MHC class II expression, such as CIITA; metabolic enzymes, such as ACOD1 IRG1. Represses genes involved in anti-proliferative response, such as BIRC5 survivin, CCNB1, CCNE1, CDK1, CDK2 and CDK4 and in immune response, such as FOXP3, IL4, ANXA2 and TLR4. Stimulates p53 TP53-dependent transcription through enhanced recruitment of EP300 leading to increased acetylation of p53 TP53. Plays an important role in immune response directly affecting NK maturation and activity, macrophage production of IL12, Th1 development and maturation of CD8+ T-cells. Also implicated in the differentiation and maturation of dendritic cells and in the suppression of regulatory T (Treg) cells development. Acts as a tumor suppressor and plays a role not only in antagonism of tumor cell growth but also in stimulating an immune response against tumor cells.

Caspase 7, also known as caspase-7 and MCH3, belongs to the cysteine-aspartic acid protease (caspase) family. Caspases play a role in the signal transduction pathways of apoptosis, necrosis and inflammation. There are two major classes of caspases: initiators and effectors. The initiator isoforms (caspases-1,-4,-5,-8,-9,-10,-11,-12) are activated by, and interact with, upstream adaptor molecules through protein-protein interaction domains known as CARD and DED. Effector caspases (-3,-6,-7) are responsible for cleaving downstream substrates and are sometimes referred to as the executioner caspases. Caspase 7 exists in lung, skeletal muscle, liver, kidney, spleen, heart, and moderately in testis. Caspase 7 cannot be detected in the brain. Caspase 7 functions in the activation cascade of caspases responsible for apoptosis execution. It cleaves and activates sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs). It proteolytically cleaves poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) at a '216-Asp- -Gly-217' bond. Overexpression promotes programmed cell death.