Caspase 16, pseudogene (CASP16P)

Caspase 16, pseudogene (CASP16P), is a non-functional genomic remnant of the ancestral caspase-16 gene in humans. Due to a frameshift mutation, it is unable to encode a catalytically active protease. While functional caspase-16 is present in some other mammals and likely shares biological roles with the apoptotic and inflammatory caspase family, the human gene is transcribed but does not produce an active protein. As such, CASP16P is not considered a protein-coding gene, therapeutic target, or clinically relevant biomarker, and there are no drugs targeting this locus. In many other mammals, caspase-16 is a functional cysteine protease involved in cell death or inflammation, similar to caspase-14 and -15, but in humans the gene is a pseudogene due to inactivating mutation. CASP16P sometimes appears in gene lists but should not be confused with active caspases or counted as a molecular target for drugs or therapies. Pseudogenes can have regulatory or evolutionary significance but, as in this case, do not encode functional proteins.

Other names

CASP16 (previous HGNC symbol)

None (does not code for an active molecule)