Once activated, initiator caspases (such as caspase-8 and caspase-9) cleave and activate effector caspases (such as caspase-3, caspase-6, and caspase-7). Effector caspases then cleave a variety of substrates within the cell, leading to the biochemical and morphological changes associated with apoptosis, including DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and membrane blebbing.
