Paracaspase

Paracaspases (human: MALT1) are related to caspases present in animals and slime mold, in contrast to metacaspases which are present in plants, fungi and "protists".^[1]

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Paracaspases are more similar to caspases than metacaspases are, indicating that this group of (putative) proteases diverged from caspases from a common metacaspase ancestor. The phylogenetic distribution is a bit confusing, since slime mold diverged earlier than the animal/fungal split.

References

1. ^ Uren A, O'Rourke K, Aravind L, Pisabarro M, Seshagiri S, Koonin E, Dixit V (2000). "Identification of paracaspases and metacaspases: two ancient families of caspase-like proteins, one of which plays a key role in MALT lymphoma". Mol Cell 6 (4): 961-7. PMID 11090634.