Resazurin sodium salt, dye for metabolic activity measurement

Supplementary information

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Cleaved caspase-6 is an active form of pro-caspase-6 also known simply as caspase-6. This protease is a member of the cysteine-aspartic acid protease family and has an approximate molecular mass of 31 kDa. It carries out its functions by cleaving specific substrates in the cell leading to apoptosis or programmed cell death. Caspase-6 is expressed in most tissues with particularly high levels in the brain and liver. Its activity can be detected in various cellular compartments including the cytoplasm.

Biological function summary

Cleaved caspase-6 triggers apoptosis playing an important role in maintaining cellular health by eliminating damaged or unwanted cells. It acts independently or as part of a larger apoptotic complex contributing to the intricate cascade of proteolytic events. Caspase-6 processing to its cleaved form involves multiple steps which allows for precise control in cellular stress conditions or during development. Through its apoptotic function caspase-6 impacts both the normal turnover of cells and their response to injury.

Pathways

The role of cleaved caspase-6 in the apoptotic cascade connects it to several critical signaling pathways. Within the intrinsic pathway it interacts with molecules such as cytochrome c released from mitochondria and proteins like Apaf-1 leading to cell dismantling. In the extrinsic pathway its activity can be regulated by upstream signals involving death receptors. Caspase-6 shares pathway relevance with proteins like caspase-3 and caspase-9 which jointly contribute to the efficient execution of apoptosis.

Cleaved caspase-6 associates with neurodegenerative conditions including Huntington's disease due to its high expression in neuronal tissues. Research demonstrates its involvement in neurodegeneration through the cleavage of neuronal proteins potentially exacerbating disease progression. Caspase-6 also has implications in cancer where its dysregulation might contribute to either resistance to cell death or unwanted cell growth. Connections to other apoptotic proteins such as caspase-3 highlight the complex role of caspase-6 in balancing cell survival and death signals in these diseases.