The core inflammasome as a model for caspase activation

该项目旨在改变活性炎症小体的结构模式。炎症体激活caspase，这是细胞死亡和炎症过程的中心酶。目前炎症体的概念是，半胱氨酸天冬氨酸氨基转移酶被招募到一个单一的巨大的蛋白质复合体中，被视为细胞中的一个“斑点”。本项目提出SPECK是一个终末阶段，在主要的酶活性结束后。该项目旨在提纯较小的早期炎性小体复合体，用于结构分析。其结果将是更清楚地了解caspase激活和炎症体形成的过程。这将带来显著的好处，例如提高我们对细胞死亡和先天免疫过程的理解，并培养学生。

This project aims to change the paradigm for the structure of the active inflammasome. Inflammasomes activate caspases, enzymes central to cell death and inflammatory processes. The current concept of inflammasomes is that caspases are recruited into a single massive protein complex seen as a “speck” in the cell. This project proposes the speck is a terminal stage, after the major enzymatic activity is over. This project aims to purify smaller early stage inflammasome complexes, for structural analysis. The outcome will be a clearer understanding of processes of caspase activation and inflammasome formation. This will provide significant benefits, such as improve our understanding of processes of cell death and innate immunity, and train students.