CASP2

Caspase-2, officially cysteine-aspartic acid protease 2, is commonly known by the alias ICH-1. As an initiator caspase, it mediates intrinsic apoptosis in response to DNA damage or oxidative stress, acting downstream of p53 and ATM/ATR signaling cascades. It also regulates cell cycle checkpoints to preserve genomic stability.
Dysregulation of CASP2 links to neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s (via excessive neuronal loss) and cancers such as breast and lung cancer (altered expression impacts tumor cell survival). Preclinical studies explore CASP2 modulators—inhibitors for neuroprotection and activators for cancer therapy—though clinical translation is still in early stages.