GZMA

Abundant protease in the cytosolic granules of cytotoxic T-cells and NK-cells which activates caspase-independent pyroptosis when delivered into the target cell through the immunological synapse. It cleaves after Lys or Arg. Once delivered into the target cell, acts by catalyzing cleavage of gasdermin-B (GSDMB), releasing the pore-forming moiety of GSDMB, thereby triggering pyroptosis and target cell death. Cleaves APEX1 after 'Lys-31' and destroys its oxidative repair activity. Cleaves the nucleosome assembly protein SET after 'Lys-189', which disrupts its nucleosome assembly activity and allows the SET complex to translocate into the nucleus to nick and degrade the DNA..

Function from UniProtKB (P12544), read 2026-09-23. CC BY 4.0.