Biochemistry Currently, the Biochemistry group is characterizing the enzymes involved in apoptosis (programmed cell death). Merck scientists discovered the first caspase, interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme. Biochemists at Kirkland have started to elucidate the role of caspases in slow degenerative neurological diseases. In a recent paper in Cell, the group described how these enzymes interact with beta amyloid precursor protein to damage neurons in Alzheimer's disease. In addition to this work on enzymes, another major focus of the biochemistry group is G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), particularly the eicosanoid receptors. |biochemistry|biochemistry|phd|asthma|