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.

Troponin I, also known as TNI, is a 24 kDa component of a protein complex on striated muscle thin filaments.Troponin is the central regulatory protein of striated muscle contraction. Tn consists of three components: Tn-I which is the inhibitor of actomyosin ATPase, Tn-T which contains the binding site for tropomyosin and Tn-C. The binding of calcium to Tn-C abolishes the inhibitory action of Tn on actin filaments. Troponin I inhibits the calcium-dependent muscle contraction mediated by Troponins C and T. The expression of cardiac Troponin I (TNNI3) is restricted to cardiac muscle, while TNNI1 and TNNI2 (encoded by distinct genes) are expressed in skeletal muscle. Mutations of cardiac Troponin I are associated with heriditary cardiomyopathy. Human cardiac Troponin I shares 93% amino acid sequence identity with mouse and rat cardiac Troponin I.

TPM1, also known as tropomyosin-1, is a member of the tropomyosin family. Members of this family are highly conserved, widely distributed actin-binding proteins involved in the contractile system of striated and smooth muscles and the cytoskeleton of non-muscle cells. highly conserved, widely distributed actin-binding proteins involved in the contractile system of striated and smooth muscles and the cytoskeleton of non-muscle cells. TPM1 is one type of alpha-helical chain that forms the predominant tropomyosin of striated muscle. It binds to actin filaments in muscle and non-muscle cells. TPM1 plays a central role, in association with the troponin complex, in the calcium-dependent regulation of vertebrate striated muscle contraction.