Paracaspase [SEP] found in taxon
Paracaspase
Paracaspases (human: MALT1) are members of the C14 family of cysteine proteases. Paracaspases are proteins related to caspases present in animals and slime mold, in contrast to metacaspases, which are present in plants, fungi, and "protists". The phylogenetic distribution is a bit confusing, since slime mold diverged earlier than the animal/fungal split.
Paracaspase has been first identified in a recurrent t(11;18)(q21;q21) chromosomal translocation associated with a subset of MALT lymphoma. This leads to a fusion oncoprotein consisting of the carboxyl
lancelets, tunicates and lampreys (a non-jawed vertebrate). Notably, mammals have lost PCASP2 and PCASP3 and only have PCASP1 (MALT1). The non-deuterostome invertebrate type 1 paracaspase closest related to PCASP3 can surprisingly be found in molluscs, which could indicate that there were 2 paralog type 1 paracaspases present in the first bilaterans (like in cnidarians), and that different bilateran lineages have kept one or the other paralog.
Known functions.
Known functions Amoebas.
The paracaspase in Dictyostelium seems to regulate osmotic