Proteases are a widely prevalent class of enzymes in organisms, responsible for catalyzing the hydrolysis of proteins, breaking them down into smaller peptides or amino acids. In cellular signaling pathways, proteases are involved in regulating cell growth, division, death, and various metabolic processes. Based on their catalytic mechanisms, they can be categorized into several major classes, including serine proteases, cysteine proteases, aspartic proteases, and metalloproteases. These proteases precisely cut signaling molecules to initiate or terminate signal transmission, affecting the determination of cell fate. For example, caspases, a family of cysteine proteases, play a crucial role in programmed cell death (apoptosis) by cutting specific proteins within the cell, leading to cell death.