CASP3

UniProt ID: P42574
Organism: Homo sapiens
Review Status: INITIALIZED
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Gene Description

CASP3 (caspase-3; apopain/CPP32/Yama) is the principal executioner cysteine-aspartic protease of apoptosis in human cells. Synthesized as an inactive zymogen, it is activated by proteolytic cleavage by initiator caspases (CASP8, CASP9, CASP10) and granzyme B into a heterotetramer of two p17/p12 heterodimers with a catalytic cysteine. It is a cysteine-type endopeptidase (EC 3.4.22.56) that cleaves substrates strictly after aspartate residues, with a preferred Asp-X-X-Asp recognition motif. During the execution/demolition phase of apoptosis it cleaves hundreds of cellular substrates, including PARP1, the ICAD/DFF45 inhibitor of the CAD/DFF40 DNA-fragmentation nuclease, cytoskeletal and junctional proteins, and numerous signaling proteins, thereby dismantling the dying cell and promoting phosphatidylserine exposure for efferocytosis. Beyond classical apoptosis, caspase-3 cleaves gasdermin-E (GSDME/DFNA5) to switch cells to pyroptosis, processes cytokines such as IL-18, and restrains innate antiviral signaling by cleaving cGAS, MAVS, IRF3, and NF-kB subunits. It also has non-lethal roles, contributing to differentiation programs (e.g., erythroid, keratinocyte, neuronal) through limited substrate cleavage. Caspase-3 acts mainly in the cytoplasm/cytosol but its active form is also found in the nucleus during apoptosis; its activity is restrained by inhibitors including XIAP and BIRC6 and by S-nitrosylation of the catalytic cysteine.

Existing Annotations Review

GO Term Evidence Action Reason
GO:0005737 cytoplasm
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 acts in the cytoplasm/cytosol, where the procaspase resides and where it is activated and cleaves most substrates.
Reason: Cytoplasmic localization is well supported as the principal site of caspase-3 activity; this is the consensus phylogenetic (IBA) cellular component and matches UniProt subcellular location.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
PMID:15003516
Caspase 3 activation is controlled by a sequence located in the N-terminus of its large subunit.
GO:0006915 apoptotic process
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 is the principal executioner caspase of apoptosis, a deeply conserved role captured by the IBA annotation.
Reason: Involvement in apoptosis is the defining biological process for caspase-3 and is supported by phylogenetic inference and extensive experimental literature.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:18723680
Caspase-3 was found to be generally more promiscuous than caspase-7 and appears to be the major executioner caspase during the demolition phase of apoptosis.
PMID:7596430
suggesting that apopain/CPP32 is important for the initiation of apoptotic cell death.
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 is a cysteine-type endopeptidase (EC 3.4.22.56) that cleaves substrates after aspartate residues; this is its core molecular function.
Reason: This is the central, well-established molecular function of caspase-3, supported by phylogenetic inference, biochemical purification, and crystal structures. It should be retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Strict requirement for an Asp residue at positions P1 and P4. It has a preferred cleavage sequence of Asp-Xaa-Xaa-Asp-|-
PMID:7596430
suggesting that apopain/CPP32 is important for the initiation of apoptotic cell death.
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-deep-research-falcon.md
the most proteolytically proficient executioner of programmed cell death
GO:0006508 proteolysis
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 carries out proteolysis of many substrates; proteolysis is the biological process realization of its endopeptidase activity.
Reason: Proteolysis is correct and consistent with the cysteine-type endopeptidase molecular function, although it is broad. Retained as a supporting (non-distinguishing) process term.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Strict requirement for an Asp residue at positions P1 and P4. It has a preferred cleavage sequence of Asp-Xaa-Xaa-Asp-|-
PMID:7596430
suggesting that apopain/CPP32 is important for the initiation of apoptotic cell death.
GO:0031264 death-inducing signaling complex
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: The death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) is the platform that activates initiator caspase-8; caspase-3 is an executioner caspase acting downstream of the DISC rather than a DISC component.
Reason: Caspase-3 is activated downstream of the DISC (by caspase-8) and is not generally considered a structural part of the DISC itself. This phylogenetic part_of assignment likely reflects over-propagation across the caspase family; caspase-3's role is as an executioner, not a DISC subunit.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:18723680
Caspase-3 was found to be generally more promiscuous than caspase-7 and appears to be the major executioner caspase during the demolition phase of apoptosis.
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Cleavage by granzyme B, caspase-6, caspase-8 and caspase-10 generates the two active subunits
GO:0097194 execution phase of apoptosis
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 is the major executioner caspase responsible for the demolition/execution phase of apoptosis.
Reason: This is a precise and core biological process term for caspase-3, supported by phylogenetic inference and experimental evidence that caspase-3 dominates the demolition phase.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:18723680
Caspase-3 was found to be generally more promiscuous than caspase-7 and appears to be the major executioner caspase during the demolition phase of apoptosis.
GO:0008047 enzyme activator activity
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: Caspase-3 activates downstream enzymes by proteolytic cleavage (e.g., caspase-6, -7, -9 and gasdermin-E), but it does so via its endopeptidase activity rather than acting as a classical allosteric enzyme activator.
Reason: While caspase-3 cleavage-activates other zymogens, the generic enzyme activator activity term mischaracterizes the mechanism, which is proteolysis. The cysteine-type endopeptidase activity term already captures this function more accurately.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Cleaves and activates caspase-6, -7 and -9 (CASP6, CASP7 and CASP9, respectively)
PMID:28459430
GSDME was specifically cleaved by caspase-3 in its linker, generating a GSDME-N fragment that perforates membranes and thereby induces pyroptosis.
GO:0043525 positive regulation of neuron apoptotic process
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: As the executioner caspase, caspase-3 promotes neuronal apoptosis (e.g., developmental neuronal death), a tissue-specific instance of its general apoptotic execution role.
Reason: This is a genuine but downstream, tissue-specific manifestation of the core apoptotic execution function rather than a distinct molecular activity. Retained as non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:18723680
Caspase-3 was found to be generally more promiscuous than caspase-7 and appears to be the major executioner caspase during the demolition phase of apoptosis.
GO:0030182 neuron differentiation
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Caspase-3 has non-apoptotic roles in neuronal differentiation/remodeling through limited substrate cleavage, captured by phylogenetic inference.
Reason: Differentiation is a real but downstream, non-core role relative to caspase-3's core cysteine-protease and apoptotic-execution functions. Retained as non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Triggers cell adhesion in sympathetic neurons through RET cleavage
GO:0030216 keratinocyte differentiation
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Caspase-3 contributes to keratinocyte differentiation (cornification), a non-apoptotic tissue-specific role inferred phylogenetically.
Reason: This is a genuine but downstream, tissue-specific differentiation role and not the core protease/apoptotic-execution function. Retained as non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Triggers cell adhesion in sympathetic neurons through RET cleavage
GO:0030218 erythrocyte differentiation
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Caspase-3 is activated during terminal erythroid differentiation; its activity is restrained (e.g., Hsp70 protecting GATA-1) so that differentiation proceeds without apoptosis.
Reason: A genuine non-apoptotic role in erythropoiesis, supported experimentally, but downstream of and dependent on the core protease function. Retained as non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:17167422
Caspase-3 is activated during both terminal differentiation and erythropoietin-starvation-induced apoptosis of human erythroid precursors.
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IEA
GO_REF:0000120
ACCEPT
Summary: Electronic annotation of the core cysteine-type endopeptidase activity, consistent with experimental and phylogenetic evidence.
Reason: Correct core molecular function; the IEA agrees with the IBA and IDA evidence for the same term.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Strict requirement for an Asp residue at positions P1 and P4. It has a preferred cleavage sequence of Asp-Xaa-Xaa-Asp-|-
GO:0005737 cytoplasm
IEA
GO_REF:0000120
ACCEPT
Summary: Electronic annotation of cytoplasmic localization, consistent with UniProt and IBA evidence.
Reason: Correct cellular component; agrees with experimental subcellular location.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0006508 proteolysis
IEA
GO_REF:0000120
ACCEPT
Summary: Electronic annotation of proteolysis, the process realization of caspase-3's endopeptidase activity.
Reason: Correct though broad; consistent with the IBA proteolysis annotation.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Strict requirement for an Asp residue at positions P1 and P4. It has a preferred cleavage sequence of Asp-Xaa-Xaa-Asp-|-
GO:0006915 apoptotic process
IEA
GO_REF:0000117
ACCEPT
Summary: Electronic (ARBA) annotation of apoptotic process, the core biological process for caspase-3.
Reason: Correct core process; agrees with IBA and experimental evidence.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:7596430
suggesting that apopain/CPP32 is important for the initiation of apoptotic cell death.
GO:0008234 cysteine-type peptidase activity
IEA
GO_REF:0000120
ACCEPT
Summary: Broader parent of cysteine-type endopeptidase activity; correct but less specific.
Reason: Correct but more general than GO:0004197. Acceptable as an IEA parent term; the more specific endopeptidase term is the core function.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Strict requirement for an Asp residue at positions P1 and P4. It has a preferred cleavage sequence of Asp-Xaa-Xaa-Asp-|-
GO:0051604 protein maturation
IEA
GO_REF:0000117
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 matures/processes substrate proteins by limited proteolysis (e.g., activating gasdermin-E, processing cytokines).
Reason: Protein maturation is a valid process realization of caspase-3 activation-by-cleavage of substrates; supported by experimental gasdermin/cytokine processing.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:28459430
GSDME was specifically cleaved by caspase-3 in its linker, generating a GSDME-N fragment that perforates membranes and thereby induces pyroptosis.
GO:0072734 cellular response to staurosporine
IEA
GO_REF:0000117
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Caspase-3 is activated during staurosporine-induced apoptosis (a standard intrinsic-apoptosis trigger).
Reason: A stimulus/response context term rather than a core function; caspase-3 acts as the executioner downstream of staurosporine-induced intrinsic apoptosis. Retained as non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:22253444
the main processing of pro-caspase-3 takes place in the cytosol of both cells lines analyzed even if caspase-3 active fragments can also be evidenced in the nuclear fractions after STP treatment
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:11257232
Structural basis for the inhibition of caspase-3 by XIAP.
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This IPI captures a physical interaction (XIAP (BIR2 domain) binds and inhibits caspase-3 [structural].) but the generic protein binding term is uninformative about caspase-3's molecular function.
Reason: Bare protein binding (GO:0005515) does not describe a distinct caspase-3 molecular activity; the functionally meaningful interactions (substrate cleavage, inhibitor binding) are better represented by the endopeptidase activity and protease binding terms. Retained but flagged as uninformative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:11257232
Structural basis for the inhibition of caspase-3 by XIAP.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:16227597
A-kinase-anchoring protein 95 functions as a potential carri...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This IPI captures a physical interaction (AKAP95 associates with active caspase-3 (nuclear translocation carrier).) but the generic protein binding term is uninformative about caspase-3's molecular function.
Reason: Bare protein binding (GO:0005515) does not describe a distinct caspase-3 molecular activity; the functionally meaningful interactions (substrate cleavage, inhibitor binding) are better represented by the endopeptidase activity and protease binding terms. Retained but flagged as uninformative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:16227597
A-kinase-anchoring protein 95 functions as a potential carrier for the nuclear translocation of active caspase 3 through an enzyme-substrate-like association.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:16501604
Protein kinase WNK3 increases cell survival in a caspase-3-d...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This IPI captures a physical interaction (WNK3 kinase interaction in a caspase-3-dependent survival pathway.) but the generic protein binding term is uninformative about caspase-3's molecular function.
Reason: Bare protein binding (GO:0005515) does not describe a distinct caspase-3 molecular activity; the functionally meaningful interactions (substrate cleavage, inhibitor binding) are better represented by the endopeptidase activity and protease binding terms. Retained but flagged as uninformative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:16501604
Protein kinase WNK3 increases cell survival in a caspase-3-dependent pathway.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:16530191
N-myristoyltransferase 2 expression in human colon cancer: c...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This IPI captures a physical interaction (NMT2/calpain-caspase cross-talk interaction.) but the generic protein binding term is uninformative about caspase-3's molecular function.
Reason: Bare protein binding (GO:0005515) does not describe a distinct caspase-3 molecular activity; the functionally meaningful interactions (substrate cleavage, inhibitor binding) are better represented by the endopeptidase activity and protease binding terms. Retained but flagged as uninformative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:16530191
N-myristoyltransferase 2 expression in human colon cancer: cross-talk between the calpain and caspase system.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:17167422
Hsp70 regulates erythropoiesis by preventing caspase-3-media...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This IPI captures a physical interaction (GATA-1 / Hsp70 interaction context in erythroid precursors.) but the generic protein binding term is uninformative about caspase-3's molecular function.
Reason: Bare protein binding (GO:0005515) does not describe a distinct caspase-3 molecular activity; the functionally meaningful interactions (substrate cleavage, inhibitor binding) are better represented by the endopeptidase activity and protease binding terms. Retained but flagged as uninformative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:17167422
Hsp70 regulates erythropoiesis by preventing caspase-3-mediated cleavage of GATA-1.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:17544405
Caspase-3-mediated cleavage of Akt: involvement of non-conse...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This IPI captures a physical interaction (AKT1 cleavage substrate interaction.) but the generic protein binding term is uninformative about caspase-3's molecular function.
Reason: Bare protein binding (GO:0005515) does not describe a distinct caspase-3 molecular activity; the functionally meaningful interactions (substrate cleavage, inhibitor binding) are better represented by the endopeptidase activity and protease binding terms. Retained but flagged as uninformative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:17544405
Caspase-3-mediated cleavage of Akt: involvement of non-consensus sites and influence of phosphorylation.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:17606900
Thioredoxin is required for S-nitrosation of procaspase-3 an...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This IPI captures a physical interaction (Thioredoxin / procaspase-3 S-nitrosation interaction.) but the generic protein binding term is uninformative about caspase-3's molecular function.
Reason: Bare protein binding (GO:0005515) does not describe a distinct caspase-3 molecular activity; the functionally meaningful interactions (substrate cleavage, inhibitor binding) are better represented by the endopeptidase activity and protease binding terms. Retained but flagged as uninformative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:17606900
Thioredoxin is required for S-nitrosation of procaspase-3 and the inhibition of apoptosis in Jurkat cells.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:18723680
Executioner caspase-3 and caspase-7 are functionally distinc...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This IPI captures a physical interaction (Substrate interactions (Bid, XIAP, gelsolin, caspase-6, p23).) but the generic protein binding term is uninformative about caspase-3's molecular function.
Reason: Bare protein binding (GO:0005515) does not describe a distinct caspase-3 molecular activity; the functionally meaningful interactions (substrate cleavage, inhibitor binding) are better represented by the endopeptidase activity and protease binding terms. Retained but flagged as uninformative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:18723680
Executioner caspase-3 and caspase-7 are functionally distinct proteases.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:19273858
S-nitrosylation of XIAP compromises neuronal survival in Par...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This IPI captures a physical interaction (XIAP S-nitrosylation interaction context.) but the generic protein binding term is uninformative about caspase-3's molecular function.
Reason: Bare protein binding (GO:0005515) does not describe a distinct caspase-3 molecular activity; the functionally meaningful interactions (substrate cleavage, inhibitor binding) are better represented by the endopeptidase activity and protease binding terms. Retained but flagged as uninformative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19273858
S-nitrosylation of XIAP compromises neuronal survival in Parkinson's disease.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:21726810
Caspase-2-mediated cleavage of Mdm2 creates a p53-induced po...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This IPI captures a physical interaction (MDM2 cleavage interaction context.) but the generic protein binding term is uninformative about caspase-3's molecular function.
Reason: Bare protein binding (GO:0005515) does not describe a distinct caspase-3 molecular activity; the functionally meaningful interactions (substrate cleavage, inhibitor binding) are better represented by the endopeptidase activity and protease binding terms. Retained but flagged as uninformative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:21726810
Caspase-2-mediated cleavage of Mdm2 creates a p53-induced positive feedback loop.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:21988832
Toward an understanding of the protein interaction network o...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This IPI captures a physical interaction (High-throughput liver interactome screen.) but the generic protein binding term is uninformative about caspase-3's molecular function.
Reason: Bare protein binding (GO:0005515) does not describe a distinct caspase-3 molecular activity; the functionally meaningful interactions (substrate cleavage, inhibitor binding) are better represented by the endopeptidase activity and protease binding terms. Retained but flagged as uninformative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:21988832
Toward an understanding of the protein interaction network of the human liver.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:23150525
Regulation of co- and post-translational myristoylation of p...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This IPI captures a physical interaction (N-myristoyltransferase/caspase interplay during apoptosis.) but the generic protein binding term is uninformative about caspase-3's molecular function.
Reason: Bare protein binding (GO:0005515) does not describe a distinct caspase-3 molecular activity; the functionally meaningful interactions (substrate cleavage, inhibitor binding) are better represented by the endopeptidase activity and protease binding terms. Retained but flagged as uninformative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:23150525
Regulation of co- and post-translational myristoylation of proteins during apoptosis: interplay of N-myristoyltransferases and caspases.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:25241761
Using an in situ proximity ligation assay to systematically ...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This IPI captures a physical interaction (Proximity ligation interactome profiling.) but the generic protein binding term is uninformative about caspase-3's molecular function.
Reason: Bare protein binding (GO:0005515) does not describe a distinct caspase-3 molecular activity; the functionally meaningful interactions (substrate cleavage, inhibitor binding) are better represented by the endopeptidase activity and protease binding terms. Retained but flagged as uninformative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:25241761
Using an in situ proximity ligation assay to systematically profile endogenous protein-protein interactions in a pathway network.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:28514442
Architecture of the human interactome defines protein commun...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This IPI captures a physical interaction (Large-scale interactome (protein communities) screen.) but the generic protein binding term is uninformative about caspase-3's molecular function.
Reason: Bare protein binding (GO:0005515) does not describe a distinct caspase-3 molecular activity; the functionally meaningful interactions (substrate cleavage, inhibitor binding) are better represented by the endopeptidase activity and protease binding terms. Retained but flagged as uninformative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:28514442
Architecture of the human interactome defines protein communities and disease networks.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:32296183
A reference map of the human binary protein interactome.
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This IPI captures a physical interaction (Binary protein interactome reference map (HuRI).) but the generic protein binding term is uninformative about caspase-3's molecular function.
Reason: Bare protein binding (GO:0005515) does not describe a distinct caspase-3 molecular activity; the functionally meaningful interactions (substrate cleavage, inhibitor binding) are better represented by the endopeptidase activity and protease binding terms. Retained but flagged as uninformative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:32296183
A reference map of the human binary protein interactome.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:32814053
Interactome Mapping Provides a Network of Neurodegenerative ...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This IPI captures a physical interaction (Neurodegenerative disease interactome screen.) but the generic protein binding term is uninformative about caspase-3's molecular function.
Reason: Bare protein binding (GO:0005515) does not describe a distinct caspase-3 molecular activity; the functionally meaningful interactions (substrate cleavage, inhibitor binding) are better represented by the endopeptidase activity and protease binding terms. Retained but flagged as uninformative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:32814053
Interactome Mapping Provides a Network of Neurodegenerative Disease Proteins and Uncovers Widespread Protein Aggregation in Affected Brains.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:33961781
Dual proteome-scale networks reveal cell-specific remodeling...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This IPI captures a physical interaction (Cell-specific interactome remodeling screen.) but the generic protein binding term is uninformative about caspase-3's molecular function.
Reason: Bare protein binding (GO:0005515) does not describe a distinct caspase-3 molecular activity; the functionally meaningful interactions (substrate cleavage, inhibitor binding) are better represented by the endopeptidase activity and protease binding terms. Retained but flagged as uninformative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:33961781
Dual proteome-scale networks reveal cell-specific remodeling of the human interactome.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:38884001
Mapping adipocyte interactome networks by HaloTag-enrichment...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This IPI captures a physical interaction (Adipocyte interactome HaloTag-MS screen.) but the generic protein binding term is uninformative about caspase-3's molecular function.
Reason: Bare protein binding (GO:0005515) does not describe a distinct caspase-3 molecular activity; the functionally meaningful interactions (substrate cleavage, inhibitor binding) are better represented by the endopeptidase activity and protease binding terms. Retained but flagged as uninformative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:38884001
Mapping adipocyte interactome networks by HaloTag-enrichment-mass spectrometry.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:7596430
Identification and inhibition of the ICE/CED-3 protease nece...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This IPI captures a physical interaction (PARP / caspase substrate interactions (apopain).) but the generic protein binding term is uninformative about caspase-3's molecular function.
Reason: Bare protein binding (GO:0005515) does not describe a distinct caspase-3 molecular activity; the functionally meaningful interactions (substrate cleavage, inhibitor binding) are better represented by the endopeptidase activity and protease binding terms. Retained but flagged as uninformative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:7596430
Identification and inhibition of the ICE/CED-3 protease necessary for mammalian apoptosis.
GO:0001554 luteolysis
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to luteolysis.
Reason: Luteolysis is a tissue-specific apoptotic process (corpus luteum regression) inferred by ortholog transfer; a downstream context of the core apoptotic-execution role.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0001666 response to hypoxia
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to response to hypoxia.
Reason: Response to hypoxia is a stimulus/response context (ortholog-transferred), not a core caspase-3 function.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0002020 protease binding
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
ACCEPT
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to protease binding.
Reason: Protease binding is informative and supported because caspase-3 is bound and inhibited by XIAP (and related IAPs) and interacts with upstream proteases. This is a meaningful interaction term, unlike bare protein binding.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0004175 endopeptidase activity
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
ACCEPT
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to endopeptidase activity.
Reason: Endopeptidase activity is a correct parent of the cysteine-type endopeptidase activity; acceptable though less specific.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0004190 aspartic-type endopeptidase activity
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
REMOVE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to aspartic-type endopeptidase activity.
Reason: Aspartic-type endopeptidase activity is mechanistically incorrect because caspase-3 is a CYSTEINE protease that cleaves after aspartate residues and is not an aspartic protease. This appears to be an erroneous ortholog/keyword transfer.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0004861 cyclin-dependent protein serine/threonine kinase inhibitor activity
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
REMOVE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to cyclin-dependent protein serine/threonine kinase inhibitor activity.
Reason: Cyclin-dependent protein kinase inhibitor activity is not a caspase-3 molecular function; this is an implausible ortholog-transferred MF and should be removed.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0005123 death receptor binding
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
REMOVE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to death receptor binding.
Reason: Death receptor binding is not an established caspase-3 molecular function; caspase-3 acts downstream of death-receptor signaling (via caspase-8) rather than binding death receptors. Likely an over-propagated transfer.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0005634 nucleus
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to nucleus.
Reason: Active caspase-3 is found in the nucleus during apoptosis, but this is secondary to its core cytoplasmic site. Kept consistent with the IDA nucleus rows as non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0007413 axonal fasciculation
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to axonal fasciculation.
Reason: Axonal fasciculation is a tissue/developmental neuronal role inferred by ortholog transfer; downstream and non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0007611 learning or memory
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to learning or memory.
Reason: Learning or memory is a high-level organismal phenotype (ortholog-transferred), reflecting non-apoptotic synaptic roles; non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0008233 peptidase activity
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
ACCEPT
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to peptidase activity.
Reason: Peptidase activity is a correct broad parent term for caspase-3's protease activity; acceptable though general.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0008627 intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway in response to osmotic stress
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway in response to osmotic stress.
Reason: Intrinsic apoptotic signaling in response to osmotic stress is a stimulus-specific apoptosis context; caspase-3 is the executioner. Non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0009410 response to xenobiotic stimulus
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to response to xenobiotic stimulus.
Reason: Response to xenobiotic stimulus is a stimulus/response context (ortholog-transferred); non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0009749 response to glucose
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to response to glucose.
Reason: Response to glucose is a stimulus/response context; non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0010038 response to metal ion
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to response to metal ion.
Reason: Response to metal ion is a stimulus/response context; non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0010165 response to X-ray
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to response to X-ray.
Reason: Response to X-ray reflects DNA-damage-induced apoptosis context; caspase-3 acts as executioner. Non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0014069 postsynaptic density
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to postsynaptic density.
Reason: Postsynaptic density localization reflects non-apoptotic synaptic roles (e.g., synapse pruning) inferred by transfer; non-core relative to cytoplasmic/nuclear core localization.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0016005 phospholipase A2 activator activity
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
REMOVE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to phospholipase A2 activator activity.
Reason: Phospholipase A2 activator activity is not an established caspase-3 molecular function; implausible ortholog-transferred MF and should be removed.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0021766 hippocampus development
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to hippocampus development.
Reason: Hippocampus development is a developmental/tissue context (ortholog-transferred); non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0030163 protein catabolic process
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
ACCEPT
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to protein catabolic process.
Reason: Protein catabolic process is consistent with caspase-3 proteolysis of substrates; acceptable as a process term.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0030182 neuron differentiation
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to neuron differentiation.
Reason: Neuron differentiation is a non-apoptotic, tissue-specific role; non-core (duplicate of the IBA neuron differentiation row).
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0031264 death-inducing signaling complex
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to death-inducing signaling complex.
Reason: Caspase-3 acts downstream of the DISC as an executioner and is not a structural DISC component; this part_of assignment is an over-annotation (consistent with the IBA row).
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0031647 regulation of protein stability
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to regulation of protein stability.
Reason: Regulation of protein stability reflects substrate-cleavage consequences (e.g., BACE/GGA3); a downstream effect, non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0032025 response to cobalt ion
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to response to cobalt ion.
Reason: Response to cobalt ion is a stimulus/response context; non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0032355 response to estradiol
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to response to estradiol.
Reason: Response to estradiol is a stimulus/response context; non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0032496 response to lipopolysaccharide
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to response to lipopolysaccharide.
Reason: Response to lipopolysaccharide is a stimulus/response context; non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0034349 glial cell apoptotic process
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to glial cell apoptotic process.
Reason: Glial cell apoptotic process is a cell-type-specific instance of apoptotic execution; non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0035094 response to nicotine
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to response to nicotine.
Reason: Response to nicotine is a stimulus/response context; non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0035556 intracellular signal transduction
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to intracellular signal transduction.
Reason: Intracellular signal transduction is broad; caspase-3 modulates signaling by cleaving signaling proteins, but this term is over-general. Non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0036269 swimming behavior
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to swimming behavior.
Reason: Swimming behavior is a zebrafish-derived organismal phenotype transferred by orthology; non-core for human caspase-3.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0042542 response to hydrogen peroxide
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to response to hydrogen peroxide.
Reason: Response to hydrogen peroxide (oxidative stress) is a stimulus/response context; non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0043025 neuronal cell body
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to neuronal cell body.
Reason: Neuronal cell body localization reflects neuronal context; non-core relative to core cytoplasmic/nuclear localization.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0043065 positive regulation of apoptotic process
IEA
GO_REF:0000120
ACCEPT
Summary: As the executioner caspase, caspase-3 positively drives the apoptotic process.
Reason: Positive regulation of apoptotic process is consistent with caspase-3's executioner role; acceptable IEA, though the more precise execution-phase term is core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0043200 response to amino acid
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to response to amino acid.
Reason: Response to amino acid is a stimulus/response context; non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0043523 regulation of neuron apoptotic process
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to regulation of neuron apoptotic process.
Reason: Regulation of neuron apoptotic process is a tissue-specific manifestation of apoptotic execution; non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0043525 positive regulation of neuron apoptotic process
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to positive regulation of neuron apoptotic process.
Reason: Positive regulation of neuron apoptotic process is a tissue-specific manifestation of apoptotic execution; non-core (duplicate of the IBA row).
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0044877 protein-containing complex binding
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
ACCEPT
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to protein-containing complex binding.
Reason: Protein-containing complex binding is supported (e.g., apoptosome-associated activation, XIAP/BIRC6 complexes); acceptable though general.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0045471 response to ethanol
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to response to ethanol.
Reason: Response to ethanol is a stimulus/response context; non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0051146 striated muscle cell differentiation
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to striated muscle cell differentiation.
Reason: Striated muscle cell differentiation is a non-apoptotic tissue-specific differentiation role; non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0051384 response to glucocorticoid
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to response to glucocorticoid.
Reason: Response to glucocorticoid is a stimulus/response context (e.g., thymocyte apoptosis); non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0071887 leukocyte apoptotic process
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to leukocyte apoptotic process.
Reason: Leukocyte apoptotic process is a cell-type-specific instance of apoptotic execution; non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0072347 response to anesthetic
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to response to anesthetic.
Reason: Response to anesthetic is a stimulus/response context; non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0098693 regulation of synaptic vesicle cycle
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to regulation of synaptic vesicle cycle.
Reason: Regulation of synaptic vesicle cycle reflects non-apoptotic synaptic roles inferred by transfer; non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0098883 synapse pruning
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to synapse pruning.
Reason: Synapse pruning is a non-apoptotic neuronal role (local caspase activity); genuine but downstream/non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0098978 glutamatergic synapse
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to glutamatergic synapse.
Reason: Glutamatergic synapse localization reflects synaptic roles inferred by transfer; non-core relative to core localization.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:1902004 positive regulation of amyloid-beta formation
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to positive regulation of amyloid-beta formation.
Reason: Positive regulation of amyloid-beta formation reflects substrate-cleavage effects on APP processing (BACE/GGA3); downstream, non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:1990418 response to insulin-like growth factor stimulus
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (Ensembl Compara, GO_REF:0000107) annotation to response to insulin-like growth factor stimulus.
Reason: Response to insulin-like growth factor stimulus is a stimulus/response context; non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0032880 regulation of protein localization
IMP
PMID:17559062
The most widespread desmosomal cadherin, desmoglein 2, is a ...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Caspase-3 cleaves desmoglein-2 (DSG2) and JUP at desmosomes, altering junctional protein localization during apoptosis.
Reason: Regulation of protein localization here is a downstream consequence of substrate cleavage (desmosomal disassembly) rather than a core function; retained as non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:17559062
The most widespread desmosomal cadherin, desmoglein 2, is a novel target of caspase 3-mediated apoptotic machinery.
GO:0098883 synapse pruning
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Caspase-3 contributes to synapse pruning, a non-apoptotic local role inferred by sequence similarity.
Reason: A genuine but downstream/non-core neuronal role; retained as non-core (mirrors the IEA synapse pruning row).
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
Thiol protease that acts as a major effector caspase involved in the execution phase of apoptosis
GO:0016485 protein processing
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 processes substrate proteins by limited proteolysis (ISS).
Reason: Protein processing is a valid process realization of caspase-3 substrate cleavage; consistent with IDA evidence.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
mediates execution of apoptosis by catalyzing cleavage of many proteins
GO:0016485 protein processing
IDA
PMID:33725486
Caspase cleavage releases a nuclear protein fragment that st...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 processes XRCC4, releasing a C-terminal fragment that activates the Xkr4 scramblase.
Reason: Direct evidence of caspase-3 protein processing producing an active fragment; core-adjacent process.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:33725486
Upon apoptotic stimuli, XRCC4, contained in the DNA repair complex, is cleaved by caspases, and its C-terminal fragment with an intrinsically disordered region is released into the cytoplasm.
GO:0097194 execution phase of apoptosis
IDA
PMID:18723680
Executioner caspase-3 and caspase-7 are functionally distinc...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 is the major executioner caspase of the demolition phase of apoptosis.
Reason: Direct, well-supported core process term.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:18723680
Caspase-3 was found to be generally more promiscuous than caspase-7 and appears to be the major executioner caspase during the demolition phase of apoptosis.
GO:0097194 execution phase of apoptosis
IDA
PMID:33725486
Caspase cleavage releases a nuclear protein fragment that st...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 executes apoptosis, including cleavage of XRCC4/scramblases driving PtdSer exposure.
Reason: Direct evidence supporting the execution-phase role.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:33725486
caspase-mediated cleavage releases a nuclear protein fragment for direct regulation of lipid dynamics on the plasma membrane.
GO:0005737 cytoplasm
EXP
PMID:15003516
Caspase 3 activation is controlled by a sequence located in ...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 localizes to the cytoplasm; activation is controlled by an N-terminal sequence of its large subunit.
Reason: Experimental (EXP) cytoplasmic localization; core location.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:15003516
Caspase 3 activation is controlled by a sequence located in the N-terminus of its large subunit.
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IDA
PMID:17823127
Cytosolic accumulation of HSP60 during apoptosis with or wit...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence of caspase-3 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. HSP60 modulates caspase-3 pro/anti-apoptotic activity (cysteine protease assay).
Reason: This is the core molecular function of caspase-3, repeatedly demonstrated experimentally on diverse substrates. Retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:17823127
Cytosolic accumulation of HSP60 during apoptosis with or without apparent mitochondrial release: evidence that its pro-apoptotic or pro-survival functions involve differential interactions with caspase-3.
GO:0097194 execution phase of apoptosis
IGI
PMID:12107093
Microinjection of cathepsin d induces caspase-dependent apop...
ACCEPT
Summary: Cathepsin D microinjection induces caspase-dependent apoptosis, with caspase-3 acting in the execution phase (genetic interaction).
Reason: Supports caspase-3's execution-phase role via genetic interaction evidence.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:12107093
Microinjection of cathepsin d induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in fibroblasts.
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IDA
PMID:9334240
Involvement of caspase-1 and caspase-3 in the production and...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence of caspase-3 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. Caspase-3 cleaves pro- and mature IL-18 at Asp71/Asp76 (DEVD-inhibitable activity).
Reason: This is the core molecular function of caspase-3, repeatedly demonstrated experimentally on diverse substrates. Retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:9334240
Involvement of caspase-1 and caspase-3 in the production and processing of mature human interleukin 18 in monocytic THP.1 cells.
GO:0016485 protein processing
IDA
PMID:9334240
Involvement of caspase-1 and caspase-3 in the production and...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 processes IL-18 (cleaving at Asp71/Asp76).
Reason: Direct evidence of caspase-3 protein processing of a cytokine substrate.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:9334240
the other is caspase-3, which cleaves both precursor and mature hIL-18 at Asp71-Ser72 and Asp76-Asn77 to generate biologically inactive products.
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IDA
PMID:37327784
Gasdermin D licenses MHCII induction to maintain food tolera...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence of caspase-3 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. Caspase-3 protease activity in gasdermin/IL-18 processing context.
Reason: This is the core molecular function of caspase-3, repeatedly demonstrated experimentally on diverse substrates. Retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:37327784
Gasdermin D licenses MHCII induction to maintain food tolerance in small intestine.
GO:0001818 negative regulation of cytokine production
IMP
PMID:36002459
Apoptotic caspase inhibits innate immune signaling by cleavi...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 cleaves NF-kB members (p65/RelA, RelB, c-Rel), dampening cytokine production.
Reason: Direct functional (IMP) evidence that caspase-3 negatively regulates cytokine production via NF-kB cleavage; a genuine non-apoptotic immunoregulatory role.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:36002459
caspase-3 can mediate the cleavage of NF-ΞΊB members p65/RelA, RelB, and c-Rel via its protease activity
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IDA
PMID:36002459
Apoptotic caspase inhibits innate immune signaling by cleavi...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence of caspase-3 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. Caspase-3 cleaves NF-kB subunits p65/RelA, RelB, c-Rel via its protease activity.
Reason: This is the core molecular function of caspase-3, repeatedly demonstrated experimentally on diverse substrates. Retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:36002459
Apoptotic caspase inhibits innate immune signaling by cleaving NF-ΞΊBs in both Mammals and Flies.
GO:0006915 apoptotic process
IDA
PMID:34480022
Endotoxin stabilizes protein arginine methyltransferase 4 (P...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 mediates apoptosis (PRMT4/endotoxin-triggered death of lung epithelia).
Reason: Direct evidence of caspase-3 in the apoptotic process; core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:34480022
Endotoxin stabilizes protein arginine methyltransferase 4 (PRMT4) protein triggering death of lung epithelia.
GO:0070269 pyroptotic inflammatory response
IDA
PMID:36426955
TRIM21 Regulates Virus-Induced Cell Pyroptosis through Polyu...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Caspase-3 participates in pyroptotic inflammatory responses (virus-induced pyroptosis context).
Reason: Pyroptosis via gasdermin cleavage is a genuine caspase-3 role; this particular TRIM21/ISG12a context is supportive but the core pyroptosis link is the GSDME cleavage. Retained as non-core context.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:36426955
TRIM21 Regulates Virus-Induced Cell Pyroptosis through Polyubiquitination of ISG12a.
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IDA
PMID:33852854
Gasdermin E permits interleukin-1 beta release in distinct s...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence of caspase-3 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. Caspase-3 cleaves and activates gasdermin-E (GSDME) at its linker.
Reason: This is the core molecular function of caspase-3, repeatedly demonstrated experimentally on diverse substrates. Retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:33852854
Gasdermin E permits interleukin-1 beta release in distinct sublytic and pyroptotic phases.
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IDA
PMID:35594856
Human NLRP1 is a sensor of pathogenic coronavirus 3CL protea...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence of caspase-3 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. Caspase-3 protease activity in NLRP1/gasdermin processing context.
Reason: This is the core molecular function of caspase-3, repeatedly demonstrated experimentally on diverse substrates. Retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:35594856
Human NLRP1 is a sensor of pathogenic coronavirus 3CL proteases in lung epithelial cells.
GO:0051604 protein maturation
IDA
PMID:33852854
Gasdermin E permits interleukin-1 beta release in distinct s...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 matures gasdermin-E (GSDME) by cleavage at its activation site.
Reason: Direct evidence of caspase-3 protein maturation of a substrate.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:33852854
non-cleavable GSDMED270A variant (altered at the CASP3 cleavage and activation site)
GO:0051604 protein maturation
IDA
PMID:35594856
Human NLRP1 is a sensor of pathogenic coronavirus 3CL protea...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 matures gasdermin substrates in the NLRP1/coronavirus protease context.
Reason: Direct evidence of caspase-3 protein maturation activity.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:35594856
Human NLRP1 is a sensor of pathogenic coronavirus 3CL proteases in lung epithelial cells.
GO:0140639 positive regulation of pyroptotic inflammatory response
IDA
PMID:33852854
Gasdermin E permits interleukin-1 beta release in distinct s...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 cleavage of GSDME positively regulates pyroptotic IL-1b release.
Reason: Direct evidence that caspase-3-GSDME cleavage promotes the pyroptotic inflammatory response.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:33852854
Gasdermin E permits interleukin-1 beta release in distinct sublytic and pyroptotic phases.
GO:0140639 positive regulation of pyroptotic inflammatory response
IDA
PMID:35594856
Human NLRP1 is a sensor of pathogenic coronavirus 3CL protea...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 promotes pyroptotic inflammatory responses via gasdermin cleavage in the NLRP1 context.
Reason: Direct evidence supporting caspase-3's positive role in pyroptosis.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:35594856
Human NLRP1 is a sensor of pathogenic coronavirus 3CL proteases in lung epithelial cells.
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IDA
PMID:28459430
Chemotherapy drugs induce pyroptosis through caspase-3 cleav...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence of caspase-3 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. Caspase-3 specifically cleaves GSDME in its linker to generate the pore-forming N fragment.
Reason: This is the core molecular function of caspase-3, repeatedly demonstrated experimentally on diverse substrates. Retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:28459430
Chemotherapy drugs induce pyroptosis through caspase-3 cleavage of a gasdermin.
GO:0051604 protein maturation
IDA
PMID:28459430
Chemotherapy drugs induce pyroptosis through caspase-3 cleav...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 matures gasdermin-E by cleavage in its linker to generate the pore-forming fragment.
Reason: Direct evidence of caspase-3 protein maturation of GSDME.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:28459430
GSDME was specifically cleaved by caspase-3 in its linker, generating a GSDME-N fragment that perforates membranes and thereby induces pyroptosis.
GO:0097194 execution phase of apoptosis
IDA
PMID:16374543
Nuclear caspase-3 and caspase-7 activation, and poly(ADP-rib...
ACCEPT
Summary: Active nuclear caspase-3 executes apoptosis (PARP cleavage) early in camptothecin-induced death.
Reason: Direct evidence of caspase-3 execution-phase activity.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:16374543
the activation of nuclear caspases-7 and -3, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, are early events in camptothecin-induced apoptosis
GO:0140639 positive regulation of pyroptotic inflammatory response
IDA
PMID:28459430
Chemotherapy drugs induce pyroptosis through caspase-3 cleav...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 cleavage of GSDME positively regulates pyroptosis after chemotherapy.
Reason: Direct evidence that caspase-3 promotes the pyroptotic inflammatory response.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:28459430
caspase-3 activation can trigger necrosis by cleaving GSDME
GO:0005737 cytoplasm
IDA
PMID:17167422
Hsp70 regulates erythropoiesis by preventing caspase-3-media...
ACCEPT
Summary: Active caspase-3 acts in the cytoplasm of erythroid precursors (and nucleus on GATA-1).
Reason: Cytoplasm is the core site of caspase-3 activity; consistent with experimental evidence.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:17167422
Caspase-3 is activated during both terminal differentiation and erythropoietin-starvation-induced apoptosis of human erythroid precursors.
GO:0097193 intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway
IMP
PMID:15565177
A novel mitochondrial protein DIP mediates E2F1-induced apop...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 is activated and executes the intrinsic (mitochondrial) apoptotic pathway (DIP/E2F1).
Reason: Caspase-3 acts in intrinsic apoptotic signaling downstream of mitochondrial signals; supported.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:15565177
typical apoptotic features such as caspase-3 activation and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose)-polymerase
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IDA
PMID:16374543
Nuclear caspase-3 and caspase-7 activation, and poly(ADP-rib...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence of caspase-3 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. Active nuclear caspase-3 cleaves PARP early in camptothecin-induced apoptosis.
Reason: This is the core molecular function of caspase-3, repeatedly demonstrated experimentally on diverse substrates. Retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:16374543
Nuclear caspase-3 and caspase-7 activation, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage are early events in camptothecin-induced apoptosis.
GO:0005634 nucleus
IDA
PMID:16374543
Nuclear caspase-3 and caspase-7 activation, and poly(ADP-rib...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Active caspase-3 is found in the nucleus, cleaving PARP early in apoptosis.
Reason: Nuclear localization of active caspase-3 is supported but secondary to its core cytoplasmic site; retained as non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:16374543
the activation of nuclear caspases-7 and -3, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, are early events in camptothecin-induced apoptosis
GO:0030163 protein catabolic process
IDA
PMID:16374543
Nuclear caspase-3 and caspase-7 activation, and poly(ADP-rib...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 carries out protein catabolism (PARP cleavage) during apoptosis.
Reason: Protein catabolic process is consistent with caspase-3 substrate cleavage; acceptable.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:16374543
poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, are early events in camptothecin-induced apoptosis
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IDA
PMID:20566630
Identification of functional regions defining different acti...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence of caspase-3 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. Functional regions defining caspase-3 vs caspase-7 cellular protease activity.
Reason: This is the core molecular function of caspase-3, repeatedly demonstrated experimentally on diverse substrates. Retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:20566630
Identification of functional regions defining different activity in caspase-3 and caspase-7 within cells.
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IDA
PMID:23650375
Structural snapshots reveal distinct mechanisms of procaspas...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence of caspase-3 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. Structural snapshots of procaspase-3 activation (catalytic mechanism).
Reason: This is the core molecular function of caspase-3, repeatedly demonstrated experimentally on diverse substrates. Retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:23650375
Structural snapshots reveal distinct mechanisms of procaspase-3 and -7 activation.
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IDA
PMID:18723680
Executioner caspase-3 and caspase-7 are functionally distinc...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence of caspase-3 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. Caspase-3 cleaves multiple natural substrates (Bid, XIAP, gelsolin, caspase-6, p23).
Reason: This is the core molecular function of caspase-3, repeatedly demonstrated experimentally on diverse substrates. Retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:18723680
Executioner caspase-3 and caspase-7 are functionally distinct proteases.
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IDA
PMID:30878284
Apoptotic Caspases Suppress Type I Interferon Production via...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence of caspase-3 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. Caspase-3 cleaves cGAS, MAVS and IRF3 via its protease activity.
Reason: This is the core molecular function of caspase-3, repeatedly demonstrated experimentally on diverse substrates. Retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:30878284
Apoptotic Caspases Suppress Type I Interferon Production via the Cleavage of cGAS, MAVS, and IRF3.
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IDA
PMID:33725486
Caspase cleavage releases a nuclear protein fragment that st...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence of caspase-3 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. Caspase-3 cleaves XRCC4 and XKR scramblases (apoptotic PtdSer exposure).
Reason: This is the core molecular function of caspase-3, repeatedly demonstrated experimentally on diverse substrates. Retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:33725486
Caspase cleavage releases a nuclear protein fragment that stimulates phospholipid scrambling at the plasma membrane.
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IDA
PMID:24904167
Caspase-mediated cleavage of phospholipid flippase for apopt...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence of caspase-3 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. Caspase-3 cleaves the ATP11C phospholipid flippase for apoptotic PtdSer exposure.
Reason: This is the core molecular function of caspase-3, repeatedly demonstrated experimentally on diverse substrates. Retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:24904167
Caspase-mediated cleavage of phospholipid flippase for apoptotic phosphatidylserine exposure.
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IDA
PMID:19240112
Huntingtin promotes cell survival by preventing Pak2 cleavag...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence of caspase-3 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. Caspase-3 cleaves PAK2 (huntingtin modulates this).
Reason: This is the core molecular function of caspase-3, repeatedly demonstrated experimentally on diverse substrates. Retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19240112
Huntingtin promotes cell survival by preventing Pak2 cleavage.
GO:0008233 peptidase activity
IDA
PMID:17167422
Hsp70 regulates erythropoiesis by preventing caspase-3-media...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 peptidase activity cleaves GATA-1 in erythroid precursors.
Reason: Peptidase activity is correct (broad parent of cysteine-type endopeptidase activity); supported.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:17167422
Hsp70 prevents active caspase-3 from cleaving GATA-1 and inducing apoptosis.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:15246877
S-nitrosation of thioredoxin in the nitrogen monoxide/supero...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This IPI captures a physical interaction (Thioredoxin/ASK1 S-nitrosation interaction context.) but the generic protein binding term is uninformative about caspase-3's molecular function.
Reason: Bare protein binding (GO:0005515) does not describe a distinct caspase-3 molecular activity; the functionally meaningful interactions (substrate cleavage, inhibitor binding) are better represented by the endopeptidase activity and protease binding terms. Retained but flagged as uninformative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:15246877
S-nitrosation of thioredoxin in the nitrogen monoxide/superoxide system activates apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1.
GO:0006508 proteolysis
IDA
PMID:17553422
Depletion of GGA3 stabilizes BACE and enhances beta-secretas...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 cleaves GGA3, stabilizing BACE and enhancing beta-secretase activity (proteolysis).
Reason: Proteolysis is correct and consistent with the cysteine-type endopeptidase function; this substrate cleavage is a concrete instance. Kept consistent with the other proteolysis annotations.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:17553422
Depletion of GGA3 stabilizes BACE and enhances beta-secretase activity.
GO:0031647 regulation of protein stability
IDA
PMID:17553422
Depletion of GGA3 stabilizes BACE and enhances beta-secretas...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Caspase-3 cleavage of GGA3 alters BACE protein stability.
Reason: Regulation of protein stability is a downstream consequence of substrate cleavage; non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:17553422
Depletion of GGA3 stabilizes BACE and enhances beta-secretase activity.
GO:1902004 positive regulation of amyloid-beta formation
IDA
PMID:17553422
Depletion of GGA3 stabilizes BACE and enhances beta-secretas...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Caspase-3-mediated GGA3 cleavage increases BACE/beta-secretase activity, promoting amyloid-beta formation.
Reason: A downstream, disease-context effect of substrate cleavage; genuine but non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:17553422
Depletion of GGA3 stabilizes BACE and enhances beta-secretase activity.
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IMP
PMID:21980415
Identification of a conserved anti-apoptotic protein that mo...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence of caspase-3 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. Anti-apoptotic protein modulates mitochondrial caspase-3 activation.
Reason: This is the core molecular function of caspase-3, repeatedly demonstrated experimentally on diverse substrates. Retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:21980415
Identification of a conserved anti-apoptotic protein that modulates the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.
GO:0006915 apoptotic process
IMP
PMID:15565177
A novel mitochondrial protein DIP mediates E2F1-induced apop...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 is activated and mediates apoptosis in the DIP/E2F1 pathway.
Reason: Direct evidence of caspase-3 in the apoptotic process; core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:15565177
typical apoptotic features such as caspase-3 activation and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose)-polymerase
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IDA
PMID:16920334
Protective role of Cop in Rip2/caspase-1/caspase-4-mediated ...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence of caspase-3 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. Caspase-3 activity in Rip2/caspase-1/-4-mediated cell death.
Reason: This is the core molecular function of caspase-3, repeatedly demonstrated experimentally on diverse substrates. Retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:16920334
Protective role of Cop in Rip2/caspase-1/caspase-4-mediated HeLa cell death.
GO:0008233 peptidase activity
IDA
PMID:19740745
A truncated form of p23 down-regulates telomerase activity v...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 peptidase activity generates a truncated p23 that down-regulates telomerase.
Reason: Peptidase activity is correct (broad); supported by substrate cleavage evidence.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19740745
A truncated form of p23 down-regulates telomerase activity via disruption of Hsp90 function.
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IMP
PMID:22253444
Apoptotic DNA degradation into oligonucleosomal fragments, b...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence of caspase-3 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. Caspase-3 cleaves ICAD/CAD to enable apoptotic DNA fragmentation.
Reason: This is the core molecular function of caspase-3, repeatedly demonstrated experimentally on diverse substrates. Retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:22253444
Apoptotic DNA degradation into oligonucleosomal fragments, but not apoptotic nuclear morphology, relies on a cytosolic pool of DFF40/CAD endonuclease.
GO:0005829 cytosol
IDA
PMID:22253444
Apoptotic DNA degradation into oligonucleosomal fragments, b...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 is processed and active in the cytosol (where it cleaves ICAD/CAD).
Reason: Cytosol is the core location of caspase-3 activity; directly supported.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:22253444
the main processing of pro-caspase-3 takes place in the cytosol of both cells lines analyzed
GO:0072734 cellular response to staurosporine
IMP
PMID:22253444
Apoptotic DNA degradation into oligonucleosomal fragments, b...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Caspase-3 is activated in response to staurosporine, cleaving ICAD to enable DNA fragmentation.
Reason: A stimulus/response context (intrinsic apoptosis trigger); caspase-3 acts as executioner. Non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:22253444
the activation of, at least, caspase-3 is necessary for the proper cleavage of ICAD L/S
GO:0016241 regulation of macroautophagy
TAS
PMID:19549685
Caspase cleavage of Atg4D stimulates GABARAP-L1 processing a...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Caspase cleavage of Atg4D stimulates GABARAP-L1 processing, linking caspase-3 to autophagy regulation.
Reason: Regulation of macroautophagy is a downstream cross-talk role (TAS) via substrate cleavage; non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19549685
Caspase cleavage of Atg4D stimulates GABARAP-L1 processing and triggers mitochondrial targeting and apoptosis.
GO:0048011 neurotrophin TRK receptor signaling pathway
IDA
PMID:23954828
Dok5 is involved in the signaling pathway of neurotrophin-3 ...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Caspase-3 acts within neurotrophin/TrkC (Dok5) signaling, where TrkC can trigger apoptosis.
Reason: A signaling-pathway context where caspase-3 acts downstream; non-core relative to the core protease/apoptosis function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:23954828
Dok5 is involved in the signaling pathway of neurotrophin-3 against TrkC-induced apoptosis.
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IDA
PMID:23729654
The human papillomavirus-16 E7 oncoprotein exerts antiapopto...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence of caspase-3 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. HPV-16 E7/gelsolin context modulating caspase-3 activity.
Reason: This is the core molecular function of caspase-3, repeatedly demonstrated experimentally on diverse substrates. Retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:23729654
The human papillomavirus-16 E7 oncoprotein exerts antiapoptotic effects via its physical interaction with the actin-binding protein gelsolin.
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IMP
PMID:10921886
The RET proto-oncogene induces apoptosis: a novel mechanism ...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence of caspase-3 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. RET proto-oncogene-induced apoptosis is caspase-3-dependent.
Reason: This is the core molecular function of caspase-3, repeatedly demonstrated experimentally on diverse substrates. Retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:10921886
The RET proto-oncogene induces apoptosis: a novel mechanism for Hirschsprung disease.
GO:0030218 erythrocyte differentiation
IDA
PMID:17167422
Hsp70 regulates erythropoiesis by preventing caspase-3-media...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Caspase-3 is activated during terminal erythroid differentiation; GATA-1 is protected from cleavage by Hsp70.
Reason: A genuine non-apoptotic role in erythropoiesis, but downstream of the core protease function. Non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:17167422
Caspase-3 is activated during both terminal differentiation and erythropoietin-starvation-induced apoptosis of human erythroid precursors.
GO:0030218 erythrocyte differentiation
TAS
PMID:18309324
No death without life: vital functions of apoptotic effector...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Effector caspases including caspase-3 have vital (non-death) functions in erythroid differentiation.
Reason: Non-apoptotic differentiation role (TAS review); genuine but non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:18309324
No death without life: vital functions of apoptotic effectors.
GO:0030220 platelet formation
TAS
PMID:18309324
No death without life: vital functions of apoptotic effector...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Caspase-3 contributes to platelet formation (a non-apoptotic effector-caspase function).
Reason: A genuine non-apoptotic tissue role (TAS review); non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:18309324
No death without life: vital functions of apoptotic effectors.
GO:0097194 execution phase of apoptosis
IMP
PMID:11350920
Deficiency of caspase-3 in MCF7 cells blocks Bax-mediated nu...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 is required for Bax-mediated nuclear fragmentation in the execution phase (MCF7 deficiency).
Reason: Direct functional (IMP) evidence for caspase-3's execution-phase role in nuclear demolition.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:11350920
Deficiency of caspase-3 in MCF7 cells blocks Bax-mediated nuclear fragmentation but not cell death.
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IMP
PMID:17559062
The most widespread desmosomal cadherin, desmoglein 2, is a ...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence of caspase-3 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. Caspase-3 cleaves desmoglein-2 (DSG2) and JUP at desmosomes.
Reason: This is the core molecular function of caspase-3, repeatedly demonstrated experimentally on diverse substrates. Retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:17559062
The most widespread desmosomal cadherin, desmoglein 2, is a novel target of caspase 3-mediated apoptotic machinery.
GO:0097194 execution phase of apoptosis
IDA
PMID:8689682
Induction of apoptotic program in cell-free extracts: requir...
ACCEPT
Summary: In cell-free extracts, cytochrome c/dATP triggers the apoptotic program that activates executioner caspase-3.
Reason: Classic evidence placing caspase-3 in the execution phase downstream of cytochrome c/apoptosome.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:8689682
Cells undergoing apoptosis in vivo showed increased release of cytochrome c to their cytosol, suggesting that mitochondria may function in apoptosis by releasing cytochrome c.
GO:0005654 nucleoplasm
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-211186
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 in the nucleoplasm for nuclear substrate cleavage (e.g., DFF45/ICAD), consistent with active caspase-3 translocating to the nucleus during apoptosis.
Reason: Nuclear/nucleoplasm localization of active caspase-3 is supported but secondary to its core cytoplasmic site; retained as non-core location context for nuclear substrate cleavage.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:16374543
the activation of nuclear caspases-7 and -3, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, are early events in camptothecin-induced apoptosis
GO:0005654 nucleoplasm
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-211190
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 in the nucleoplasm for nuclear substrate cleavage (e.g., DFF45/ICAD), consistent with active caspase-3 translocating to the nucleus during apoptosis.
Reason: Nuclear/nucleoplasm localization of active caspase-3 is supported but secondary to its core cytoplasmic site; retained as non-core location context for nuclear substrate cleavage.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:16374543
the activation of nuclear caspases-7 and -3, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, are early events in camptothecin-induced apoptosis
GO:0005654 nucleoplasm
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-211219
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 in the nucleoplasm for nuclear substrate cleavage (e.g., DFF45/ICAD), consistent with active caspase-3 translocating to the nucleus during apoptosis.
Reason: Nuclear/nucleoplasm localization of active caspase-3 is supported but secondary to its core cytoplasmic site; retained as non-core location context for nuclear substrate cleavage.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:16374543
the activation of nuclear caspases-7 and -3, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, are early events in camptothecin-induced apoptosis
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-114252
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-201595
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-201603
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-201608
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-201611
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-201622
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-201628
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-201629
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-201630
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-201631
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-201636
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-201639
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-201640
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-2028692
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-2028697
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-202917
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-202939
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-202947
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-202960
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-202966
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-202967
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-202969
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-205117
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-211219
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-212552
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-350651
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-351849
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-351871
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-351876
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-351877
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-351901
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-351913
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-373705
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-418845
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-449073
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-9627104
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-9647632
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-9686088
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-NUL-211643
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome places caspase-3 (and its substrate-cleavage reactions) in the cytosol, the principal compartment of caspase-3 activity.
Reason: Cytosol is the core, well-supported location of caspase-3. These Reactome rows are substrate-cleavage reaction contexts; the cytosolic cellular component is correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION; Cytoplasm
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:9208847
Casper is a FADD- and caspase-related inducer of apoptosis.
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This IPI captures a physical interaction (Casper/c-FLIP FADD- and caspase-related interaction.) but the generic protein binding term is uninformative about caspase-3's molecular function.
Reason: Bare protein binding (GO:0005515) does not describe a distinct caspase-3 molecular activity; the functionally meaningful interactions (substrate cleavage, inhibitor binding) are better represented by the endopeptidase activity and protease binding terms. Retained but flagged as uninformative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:9208847
Casper is a FADD- and caspase-related inducer of apoptosis.
GO:0005634 nucleus
IDA
PMID:17167422
Hsp70 regulates erythropoiesis by preventing caspase-3-media...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Active caspase-3 is present in the nucleus of erythroid precursors where it can cleave GATA-1.
Reason: Nuclear localization of active caspase-3 is supported but secondary to its core cytoplasmic site; non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:17167422
Hsp70 co-localizes and interacts with GATA-1 in the nucleus of erythroid precursors undergoing terminal differentiation.
GO:0005829 cytosol
IDA
PMID:17167422
Hsp70 regulates erythropoiesis by preventing caspase-3-media...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 acts in the cytosol of erythroid precursors.
Reason: Cytosol is the core site of caspase-3 activity; supported.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:17167422
Caspase-3 is activated during both terminal differentiation and erythropoietin-starvation-induced apoptosis of human erythroid precursors.
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
IDA
PMID:21726810
Caspase-2-mediated cleavage of Mdm2 creates a p53-induced po...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence of caspase-3 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. Caspase-3 cleavage activity in the MDM2/p53 feedback context.
Reason: This is the core molecular function of caspase-3, repeatedly demonstrated experimentally on diverse substrates. Retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:21726810
Caspase-2-mediated cleavage of Mdm2 creates a p53-induced positive feedback loop.
GO:0034612 response to tumor necrosis factor
TAS
PMID:10521396
Cleavage of the death domain kinase RIP by caspase-8 prompts...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Caspase-3 acts downstream of TNF-induced apoptosis (RIP cleavage by caspase-8).
Reason: Response to TNF is a stimulus/response signaling context; caspase-3 is the executioner downstream. Non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:10521396
Cleavage of the death domain kinase RIP by caspase-8 prompts TNF-induced apoptosis.
GO:0097190 apoptotic signaling pathway
TAS
PMID:10521396
Cleavage of the death domain kinase RIP by caspase-8 prompts...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 acts within the apoptotic signaling pathway (TNF/death-receptor-induced apoptosis).
Reason: Apoptotic signaling pathway is a valid process for caspase-3 as the executioner; supported.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:10521396
Cleavage of the death domain kinase RIP by caspase-8 prompts TNF-induced apoptosis.
GO:0008233 peptidase activity
IDA
PMID:9353287
Generation of anti-apoptotic presenilin-2 polypeptides by al...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 peptidase activity cleaves presenilin-2 generating anti-apoptotic polypeptides.
Reason: Peptidase activity is correct (broad); supported by substrate cleavage evidence.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:9353287
Generation of anti-apoptotic presenilin-2 polypeptides by alternative transcription, proteolysis, and caspase-3 cleavage.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:17823127
Cytosolic accumulation of HSP60 during apoptosis with or wit...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This IPI captures a physical interaction (HSP60 interaction modulating pro/anti-apoptotic functions.) but the generic protein binding term is uninformative about caspase-3's molecular function.
Reason: Bare protein binding (GO:0005515) does not describe a distinct caspase-3 molecular activity; the functionally meaningful interactions (substrate cleavage, inhibitor binding) are better represented by the endopeptidase activity and protease binding terms. Retained but flagged as uninformative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:17823127
Cytosolic accumulation of HSP60 during apoptosis with or without apparent mitochondrial release: evidence that its pro-apoptotic or pro-survival functions involve differential interactions with caspase-3.
GO:0005829 cytosol
IDA
PMID:17823127
Cytosolic accumulation of HSP60 during apoptosis with or wit...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 is present in the cytosol, where cytosolic HSP60 modulates its activity during apoptosis.
Reason: Cytosol is the core location of caspase-3; directly supported.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:17823127
Cytosolic accumulation of HSP60 during apoptosis with or without apparent mitochondrial release
GO:0006508 proteolysis
IDA
PMID:12888622
Caspase cleavage of tau: linking amyloid and neurofibrillary...
ACCEPT
Summary: Caspase-3 cleaves tau, linking amyloid and neurofibrillary tangles (proteolysis).
Reason: Proteolysis is correct and consistent with the cysteine-type endopeptidase function; this substrate cleavage is a concrete instance. Kept consistent with the other proteolysis annotations.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:12888622
Caspase cleavage of tau: linking amyloid and neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:9736630
Tau cleavage and dephosphorylation in cerebellar granule neu...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This IPI captures a physical interaction (Tau cleavage interaction in apoptotic neurons.) but the generic protein binding term is uninformative about caspase-3's molecular function.
Reason: Bare protein binding (GO:0005515) does not describe a distinct caspase-3 molecular activity; the functionally meaningful interactions (substrate cleavage, inhibitor binding) are better represented by the endopeptidase activity and protease binding terms. Retained but flagged as uninformative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:9736630
Tau cleavage and dephosphorylation in cerebellar granule neurons undergoing apoptosis.
GO:0004197 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity
TAS
PMID:10942389
HIV-1 gp120- and gp160-induced apoptosis in cultured endothe...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence of caspase-3 cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. HIV-1 gp120/gp160-induced endothelial apoptosis mediated by caspases including caspase-3.
Reason: This is the core molecular function of caspase-3, repeatedly demonstrated experimentally on diverse substrates. Retained as a core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:10942389
HIV-1 gp120- and gp160-induced apoptosis in cultured endothelial cells is mediated by caspases.
GO:0006915 apoptotic process
TAS
PMID:7983002
CPP32, a novel human apoptotic protein with homology to Caen...
ACCEPT
Summary: CPP32 (caspase-3) is an apoptotic protein homologous to CED-3/ICE (original cloning, TAS).
Reason: Foundational evidence for caspase-3's role in the apoptotic process; core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:7983002
CPP32, a novel human apoptotic protein with homology to Caenorhabditis elegans cell death protein Ced-3 and mammalian interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme.

Core Functions

Caspase-3 is a cysteine-type endopeptidase (EC 3.4.22.56) that cleaves substrates after aspartate residues, with a strict requirement for Asp at the P1 and P4 positions of an Asp-X-X-Asp recognition motif. It is synthesized as a zymogen and activated by cleavage by initiator caspases or granzyme B into a p17/p12 heterotetramer.

Directly Involved In:
Cellular Locations:
Supporting Evidence:
  • file:human/CASP3/CASP3-uniprot.txt
    Strict requirement for an Asp residue at positions P1 and P4. It has a preferred cleavage sequence of Asp-Xaa-Xaa-Asp-|-
  • PMID:7596430
    This enzyme, named apopain, is composed of two subunits of relative molecular mass (M(r)) 17K and 12K that are derived from a common proenzyme identified as CPP32.

As the principal executioner caspase, caspase-3 carries out the demolition phase of apoptosis by cleaving many cellular substrates (e.g., PARP1; ICAD/DFF45 to release the CAD/DFF40 DNA-fragmentation nuclease; cytoskeletal, junctional and signaling proteins) and by driving phosphatidylserine exposure through cleavage of XKR scramblases and the ATP11C flippase.

Directly Involved In:
Cellular Locations:
Supporting Evidence:
  • PMID:18723680
    Caspase-3 was found to be generally more promiscuous than caspase-7 and appears to be the major executioner caspase during the demolition phase of apoptosis.
  • PMID:22253444
    the main processing of pro-caspase-3 takes place in the cytosol of both cells lines analyzed even if caspase-3 active fragments can also be evidenced in the nuclear fractions after STP treatment

Caspase-3 cleaves and activates gasdermin-E (GSDME/DFNA5), switching apoptotic cells to pyroptosis and permitting IL-1 beta release, coupling the apoptotic protease to a pro-inflammatory lytic cell-death program.

Supporting Evidence:
  • PMID:28459430
    Chemotherapy drugs induce pyroptosis through caspase-3 cleavage of a gasdermin.

Caspase-3 restrains innate immune and cytokine signaling by cleaving antiviral signaling proteins (cGAS, MAVS, IRF3) and NF-kB subunits (p65/RelA, RelB, c-Rel) and by processing cytokines such as IL-18, dampening cytokine production during apoptosis.

Supporting Evidence:
  • PMID:30878284
    Apoptotic Caspases Suppress Type I Interferon Production via the Cleavage of cGAS, MAVS, and IRF3.
  • PMID:36002459
    Apoptotic caspase inhibits innate immune signaling by cleaving NF-ΞΊBs in both Mammals and Flies.

References

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Suggested Questions for Experts

Q: To what extent are caspase-3 non-apoptotic roles (erythroid/keratinocyte differentiation, synapse pruning, platelet formation) driven by spatially or temporally restricted sublethal caspase-3 activity, and can substrate repertoires be defined that distinguish lethal from non-lethal activation?

Suggested experts: Salvesen GS, Martin SJ

Q: Which GO_REF:0000107 ortholog-transferred stimulus/response and tissue terms on CASP3 represent genuine direct roles versus over-propagation across the caspase family, and should questionable molecular-function transfers (aspartic-type endopeptidase, CDK inhibitor, phospholipase A2 activator) be removed upstream?

Suggested experts: Thornberry NA

Suggested Experiments

Experiment: Perform N-terminomics (e.g., TAILS/subtiligase) on cells undergoing caspase-3-dependent differentiation versus apoptosis, with caspase-3 knockout and caspase-resistant substrate mutants as controls, to map the differentiation-specific cleavage repertoire.

Hypothesis: Caspase-3 substrate cleavage during sublethal/non-apoptotic activation produces a distinct proteome from that during full apoptosis, explaining its differentiation roles.

Type: degradomics / N-terminomics

Experiment: Titrate GSDME expression and caspase-3 activation kinetics in isogenic cell lines (including non-cleavable GSDME D270A) and quantify apoptosis versus pyroptosis outcomes and IL-1 beta release.

Hypothesis: The balance between caspase-3-driven apoptosis and GSDME-driven pyroptosis is set by GSDME abundance and caspase-3 activity kinetics.

Type: cell death pathway dissection

Deep Research

Falcon

(CASP3-deep-research-falcon.md)

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πŸ“š Additional Documentation

Notes

(CASP3-notes.md)

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