Caspase-6
Caspase-6 is an effector caspase with a distinctive neurological profile. Although it can be activated during apoptosis alongside Caspase-3 and Caspase-7, its cleavage of substrates such as tau, huntingtin, and amyloid precursor protein links the protease to the progression of Alzheimer disease, Huntington disease, and related neurodegenerative conditions. Caspase-6 also participates in non-apoptotic processes, including axonal degeneration and pruning of neuronal processes during development, which helps explain why its activity is enriched in the nervous system. The zymogen is unusually prone to autoactivation and can be processed by caspases as well as by other proteases, features that make it an appealing but challenging drug target.
