Molecular function

cysteine-type endopeptidase activity involved in apoptotic signalling pathway

Catalysis of the hydrolysis of internal, alpha-peptide bonds in a polypeptide chain by a mechanism in which the sulfhydryl group of a cysteine residue at the active center acts as a nucleophile, and contributing to the apoptotic signaling pathway.

Examples of gene products that may be annotated to this term include CASP2, CASP8, CASP9, and CASP10, also called initiator (or apical, or activator) caspases.