Thiol protease that cleaves IL-1 beta between an Asp and an Ala, releasing the mature cytokine which is involved in a variety of inflammatory processes. Important for defense against pathogens. Cleaves and activates sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs). Can also promote apoptosis.
Heterotetramer that consists of two anti-parallel arranged heterodimers, each one formed bya 20 kDa (p20) and a 10 kDa (p10) subunit. The p20 subunit can also form a heterodimer with the epsilon isoform which then has an inhibitory effect. May be a component of the inflammasome, a protein complex which also includes PYCARD, CARD8 and NALP2 and whose function would be the activation of proinflammatory caspases. Interacts with CARD17/INCA and CARD18.