Human Caspase 5,CASP5 ELI

Thiol protease that acts as a mediator of programmed cell death (PubMed:29898893, PubMed:28314590).

Initiates pyroptosis, a programmed lytic cell death pathway through cleavage of Gasdermin-D (GSDMD): cleavage releases the N-terminal gasdermin moiety (Gasdermin-D, N-terminal) that binds to membranes and forms pores, triggering pyroptosis (PubMed:29898893).

During non-canonical inflammasome activation, cuts CGAS and may play a role in the regulation of antiviral innate immune activation (PubMed:28314590).

{ECO:0000269|PubMed:28314590, ECO:0000269|PubMed:29898893}.