Caspase 1, apoptosis-related cysteine peptidase pseudogene

The gene ENSG00000288255 is annotated as a **pseudogene** of caspase 1, apoptosis-related cysteine peptidase, also referenced as interleukin 1, beta, convertase pseudogene[3]. Pseudogenes are gene sequences that resemble known genes but typically **lack the ability to code for a functional protein** due to mutations, truncations, or other genetic alterations[1]. They may arise from gene duplication or retrotransposition events and usually do not have biological functions or disease associations attributed to them directly. As a result, this pseudogene **is not a therapeutic target** and does *not* participate in classical biological processes or pathways attributed to the functional CASP1 gene or its protein product. The canonical, protein-coding CASP1 gene (not the pseudogene) is a cysteine protease central to **apoptosis and inflammatory signaling**, particularly through maturation of pro-interleukin-1β and execution of pyroptosis[2][4]. Functional caspase 1 enzymes are bona fide therapeutic targets in some contexts, but this **does not apply to the pseudogene** represented by ENSG00000288255. The confusion may arise because the symbol and full name resemble that of functional caspase 1, which is a well-characterized protease involved in inflammation and cell death. However, **ENSG00000288255 itself is a pseudogene and not a functional or druggable target**[3]. Proper care should be taken not to conflate this pseudogene with the protein-coding and therapeutically relevant CASP1 gene (ENSG00000137752)[5]. If you are seeking data relevant to the druggability and biology of **caspase 1**, refer specifically to the protein-coding gene (CASP1, ENSG00000137752), not this pseudogene.

Other names

Caspase 1 pseudogeneCASP1Pinterleukin 1, beta, convertase pseudogene