Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
C
HAPTER
11
Fungal Metacaspases:
An Overview
Anthonia O'Donovan,* Finola E. Cliffe
and Mary C. Shier
Abstract
Understanding the role of metacaspases in programmed cell death pathways
of fungi may offer a chance of exploiting the fungal molecular death machinery
to control fungal infections. The marked differences between the cell death
pathways of pathogens and their hosts make this a very attractive venture that
poses many advantages. This chapter reviews fungal metacaspases in light of
their metazoan counterpart; the caspases. The apoptotic process is considered
with a focus on fungal apoptosis. Furthermore, the roles, elucidated to date, of
metacaspases in programmed cell death is discussed and the possible applications
of fungal metacaspases are proposed with supporting evidence from ongoing
scientifi c studies. Finally, whilst considering all factors highlighted in the chapter,
the biotechnological applications of fungal metacaspases including therapeutic
agents against human pathogens and antifungal agents in biocontrol processes
are discussed.
INTRODUCTION
Metacaspases
Caspases, paracaspases and metacaspases are classifi ed according to the
MEROPs database,
http://merops.sanger.ac.uk,
as members of the C14
family, clan CD. All the sequences in the same clan are evolutionarily-
related, determined by similarities in protein tertiary structures and share
* Corresponding Author E-mail:
anthonia.odonovan@nuigalway.ie
