Caspase‐3, a cysteine‐aspartic acid protease, has recently attracted much attention because of its incredible roles in tissue differentiation, regeneration, and neural development. This enzyme is a key zymogen in cell apoptosis and is not activated until it is cleaved by initiator caspases during apoptotic flux. Since caspase‐3 has represented valuable capabilities in the field of medical research, biotechnological aspects of this enzyme, including the production of recombinant type, protein engineering, and designing delivery systems, have been considered as emerging therapeutic strategies in treating the apoptosis‐related disorders. To date, several advances have been made in the therapeutic use of caspase‐3 in the management of some diseases such as cancers, heart failure, and neurodegenerative disorders. In the current review, we intend to discuss the caspase‐3's structure, functions, therapeutic applications, as well as its molecular cloning, protein engineering, and relevant delivery systems.

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ABA: abscisic acid; ABRE: ABA-responsive element; As: arsenic; Cd: cadmium; ef1: elongation factor; FW: fresh weight; GSH: glutathione; GST: glutathione-S-transferase; GSTU: tau class GST; Hcl: hydrochloric acid; Hg: mercury; HgCl: mercury(II) chloride; MYB: myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog; Ni: nickel; Pb: lead; SiGSTU: Salicornia iranica GSTU; ZnSO: zinc sulfate.

The heavy metal lead (Pb) is one of the most important environmental pollutants and abiotic stresses with harmful effects on all living beings including plants. In this study, Salicornia iranica was used in an attempt to phytoremediate Pb‐contaminated soil. Possible mechanisms of plant tolerance against Pb pollution and its detoxification were studied through expression analysis of Glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) and measurement of involved key physiological components. Interestingly, promoter analysis of GST showed that there are some essential cis‐acting elements responsive to gibberellin, abscisic acid, salicylic acid, and myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog (MYB) family binding sites involved in Pb detoxification. The concentration of chlorophyll a and b and carotenoids significantly decreased in plants grown on Pb‐contaminated soil for 90 days and in 90‐day‐old plants treated for 24 and 48 h (at a concentration of 1000 mg/kg Pb). The result of free proline measurement showed that it significantly increased in shoot tissue. The Pb absorption and its concentration increased in shoot tissue. In addition, the GST expression significantly increased as a result of the 100 mg/kg Pb treatment, but not at the higher concentration of 1000 mg/kg Pb. It was also observed that Pb accumulation did not influence plant growth parameters such as shoot and root lengths. Therefore, S. iranica is able to accumulate Pb in shoot tissue, and it may be useful in phytoremediation of Pb‐polluted soil.