Swiss-Prot Acc.P55212.Functioni
Cysteine protease that plays essential roles in programmed cell death, axonal degeneration, development and innate immunity (PubMed:8663580, PubMed:19133298, PubMed:22858542, PubMed:28864531, PubMed:30420425, PubMed:32298652).
Acts as a non-canonical executioner caspase during apoptosis: localizes in the nucleus and cleaves the nuclear structural protein NUMA1 and lamin A/LMNA thereby inducing nuclear shrinkage and fragmentation (PubMed:8663580, PubMed:9463409, PubMed:11953316, PubMed:17401638).
Lamin-A/LMNA cleavage is required for chromatin condensation and nuclear disassembly during apoptotic execution (PubMed:11953316).
Acts as a regulator of liver damage by promoting hepatocyte apoptosis: in absence of phosphorylation by AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), catalyzes cleavage of BID, leading to cytochrome c release, thereby participating in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (PubMed:32029622).