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 ( ).
Subcellular locations: Secreted, Cytoplasmic granule
Delivered into the target cell by perforin.