Caspase-2: the orphan caspase

Despite an abundance of literature on the role of caspase-2 in apoptosis, there exists much controversy about this protease making it difficult to place caspase-2 correctly in the apoptotic cascade, and hence its role in apoptosis remains unclear. The identification of the PIDDosome as a signaling platform for caspase-2 activation prompted intense investigation into the true role of this orphan caspase. What has emerged is the idea that caspase-2 may not be mandatory for apoptosis and that activation of this caspase in response to some forms of stress has other effects on the cell such as regulation of cell cycle progression. This idea is particularly relevent to the discovery that caspase-2 may act as a tumor suppressor. Here, we discuss the proposed mechanisms through which caspase-2 signals, in particular those involving PIDD, and their impact on cellular fate. Cell Death and Differentiation (2012) 19, 51-57; doi:10.1038/cdd.2011.157; published online 11 November 2011