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. 1995 Jan;4(1):3–12. doi: 10.1002/pro.5560040102

Interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme: a novel cysteine protease required for IL-1 beta production and implicated in programmed cell death.

N A Thornberry 1, S M Molineaux 1
PMCID: PMC2142972  PMID: 7773174

Abstract

Interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme is the first member of a new class of cysteine proteases. The most distinguishing feature of this family is a nearly absolute specificity for cleavage at aspartic acid. This enzyme has been the subject of intense research because of its role in the production of IL-1 beta, a key mediator of inflammation. These studies have culminated in the design of potent inhibitors and determination of its crystal structure. The structure secures the relationship of the enzyme to CED-3, the product of a gene required for programmed cell death in Caenorhabditis elegans, suggesting that members of this family function in cell death in vertebrates.

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Selected References

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