Inducible Caspase 9

**Semantic type:** Gene or Genome

**Definition:** A dimerizable suicide gene system composed of the pro-apoptotic caspase-9 in which the caspase recruitment domain (CARD) is replaced with a mutated (F36V) dimerizer drug-binding domain from the human FK506-binding protein (FKBP12), that can be incorporated in therapeutic cells to avoid cell-related toxicities. When toxicity of the administered cells occur in which inducible caspase 9 (iCasp9) is incorporated, the expressed iCasp9, which is inactive, can become activated after administration of a specific chemical inducer of dimerization (CID), such as rimiducid (AP1903) or temsirolimus. The binding of the CID to the CID binding domain of iCasp9 cross-links and dimerizes iCasp9, which causes its activation. This results in the induction of caspase-mediated apoptosis of the transduced cells and allows for the removal of inappropriately activated cells, thereby preventing toxicity of the administered cells.

**Synonyms:** - CaspaCIDe (R) - IC9 - Inducible Caspase-9 - iCasp9