The present invention relates to a chimeric pro-
caspase, which contains a pro-
caspase domain and an oligomerizing domain. The invention also relates to an
antibody that reacts specifically with a chimeric pro-
caspase. In addition, the invention further relates to a
polynucleotide encoding a chimeric pro-caspase, and to
nucleotide sequences, which can hybridize specifically with a
polynucleotide encoding a chimeric pro-caspase. The present invention also relates to a method of inducing
apoptosis in a
cell by providing a chimeric pro-caspase in the
cell, wherein the chimeric pro-caspase includes a pro-caspase domain and an oligomerizing domain, whereby the chimeric pro-caspase forms an
oligomer in the
cell, thereby activating
caspase activity of the chimeric pro-caspase and inducing
apoptosis in the cell. The present invention further relates to a method of reducing the severity of a
pathologic condition in a subject, by providing cells of the subject that are involved in the
pathologic condition with a chimeric pro-caspase comprising a pro-caspase domain and an oligomerizing domain, whereby the chimeric pro-caspase forms an
oligomer in the cells, thereby activating
caspase activity of the chimeric pro-caspase, inducing
apoptosis in the cells, and reducing the severity of the
pathologic condition in the subject.