Serine protease HTRA2, mitochondrial (HTRA2)

Serine protease that shows proteolytic activity against a non-specific substrate beta-casein. Promotes or induces cell death either by direct binding to and inhibition of BIRC proteins (also called inhibitor of apoptosis proteins, IAPs), resulting in an increase in caspase activity, or by a BIRC inhibition-independent, caspase-independent and serine protease activity-dependent mechanism.

Cleaves THAP5 and promotes its degradation during apoptosis. Isoform 2 appears to be proteolytically inactive.