Caspase-6 (Mch2) is one of the major executioner caspases functioning in cellular apoptotic processes (1,2). Upon apoptotic stimulation, initiator caspases such as caspase-9 are cleaved and activated (3). The activated upstream caspases further process downstream executioner caspases, such as caspase-3 and caspase-6, by cleaving them into large and small subunits, thereby initiating a caspase cascade leading to apoptosis (4,5). One of the major targets for caspase-6 is the membrane associated protein lamin A (6). The cleavage of this protein causes cell membrane malfunction, membrane blebbing and eventual cell death.
