Exiting the dark side: A vital role for Caspase-3 in Yap signaling

Abstract

Caspase-3 is known to play a critical function in the process of apoptosis. Recently, we have discovered a non-apoptotic role of Caspase-3 as a key regulator of cell proliferation and organ size. Caspase-3 cleaves α-Catenin, which sequesters Yes-associated protein 1 (Yap1) in the cytoplasm, thus facilitating the activation and nuclear translocation of Yap1. These findings reveal that the apoptotic machinery can be refocused to regulate cell proliferation and organ size.