Regulate protein function

Caspase can act on several enzymes or proteins related to cytoskeleton regulation to change the cell structure. These include gelsin, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), P21 activated kinase α （PAK α） Etc. The cleavage of these proteins leads to a decline in their activity. For example, Caspase can cleave and coagulate collagen to produce fragments, making it unable to regulate the cytoskeleton through actin fibers.

In addition, Caspase can also inactivate or down regulate enzymes, mRNA splicing proteins and DNA cross-linking proteins related to DNA repair. Because of the effect of DNA, the function of these proteins is inhibited, which hinders the proliferation and replication of cells and leads to apoptosis.

All these indicate that Caspase "destroys" cells in an orderly manner. They cut off the connections between cells and their surroundings, break down the cytoskeleton, block DNA replication and repair, interfere with mRNA splicing, damage DNA and nuclear structure, induce cells to express signals that can be swallowed by other cells, and further degrade them into apoptotic bodies.