 Caspases exist as inactive proenzymes that undergo proteolytic processing by upstream caspases (caspase-8, -9) at conserved aspartic residues to produce two subunits, large and small, that dimerize to form the active enzyme in the form of a heterotetramer.The precursor of this caspase is cleaved by caspase 3, caspase 10, and caspase 9.It is activated upon cell death stimuli and induces apoptosis.