# Proteolytic Mechanisms Mediating Diverse Non-Apoptotic Caspase Functions

> **NIH NIH R35** · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · $401,760

## Abstract

Project Summary
Emerging findings show critical non-apoptotic functions of caspases across diverse animal phyla. My
unpublished findings indicate marked roles for caspases in ensuring multiple aspects of development
including cell-cell communication, cell migration, protein homeostasis, and regulating the translation of a
subset of genes in a tissue-specific manner. Moreover, my data indicate that a caspase target expressed in
the same cell at the same time as the caspase may not be acted upon by the caspase until a specific
developmental time point suggesting additional layers of regulation. It is not known how specific non-
apoptotic caspase functions are mediated in such a dynamic manner. Based on my recent findings, it is
likely that caspases require other components, such as E3 ligases, to execute the non-apoptotic functions. I
therefore hypothesize that caspases function in complexes with other proteins that confer non-apoptotic
specificity according to developmental stage, tissue type, and environmental status. Over the next five
years, the critical goals for my lab are to: 1) identify the caspase-mediated regulatory network supporting
vitality, 2) understand how protein-protein interactions influence distinct caspase mechanisms, and 3)
identify the caspase targets mediating tissue-specific translational regulation. I have initiated an important
collaboration with our biophysics core at UT Southwestern to vigorously undertake structure-function
studies of caspases with UBR-type E3 ligases and other components. My proposed interdisciplinary studies
include genetic screens, biochemical analyses, translatomics, proteomics, and structure-function studies.
The objective of the proposed studies is to understand the conserved mechanisms directing the non-
apoptotic caspase functions.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10005384
- **Project number:** 5R35GM133755-02
- **Recipient organization:** UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Benjamin P. Weaver
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $401,760
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10005384

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10005384, Proteolytic Mechanisms Mediating Diverse Non-Apoptotic Caspase Functions (5R35GM133755-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10005384. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*