Caspases, (E.C. 3.4.22.-) which derive their name from Cysteine ASPartate-specific proteASES, include at least two families; initiator caspases (caspases 2, 8, 9 and 10), which are able to hydrolyse and activate a second family of effector caspases (caspases 3, 6 and 7), which themselves are able to hydrolyse further cellular proteins to bring about programmed cell death. Caspases are heterotetrameric, being made up of two pairs of subunits, generated by a single gene product, which is proteolysed to form the mature protein. Members of the mammalian inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAP) are able to bind the procaspases, thereby preventing maturation to active proteinases.

CARD16 (Caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 16, caspase-1 inhibitor COP, CARD only domain-containing protein 1, pseudo interleukin-1β converting enzyme, pseudo-ICE, ENSG00000204397) shares sequence similarity with some of the caspases.

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