PME SPECIAL SEMINAR Caspases: What doesn't kill you makes you differentiate

Caspases are predominantly known for their destructive role in programmed cell death, but they are activated during cell differentiation as well. Their sublethal and transient activation has been reported in differentiating myoblasts, osteoblasts, erythroblasts, neural precursor cells, and T cells, suggesting that caspases may be a universal, key driver of differentiation. But how do we reconcile this with the fact that they are killer proteases? I will share a fascinating phenomenon – namely, caspase-mediated nuclear pore complex trimming – that can explain this duality. Building upon this finding, I will discuss how caspases and other proteases can play a key role in cell fate determination. I will also show how we can study them at molecular, proteome/genome, and organismal levels using chemical approaches and zebrafish models.

<a href="https://uchicago.zoom.us/j/93349964794?pwd=NlBSNGIvVW5mVlJQdWE4eDVrY0h2… Link</a><br />

Host: Prof. Jeff Hubbell