Caspases are enzymes that cleave specific proteins at aspartic acid residues, and they are classified into initiator and effector caspases. Initiator caspases, such as caspase-8 and caspase-9, are involved in the early stages of the apoptotic pathway, while effector caspases, like caspase-3, -6, and -7, execute cell death by dismantling cellular components. Their role in apoptosis makes them significant in toxicological studies where cell death is a critical endpoint.
