Apoptosis or programmed death is a physiological process responsible for normal development and homeostasis of multicellular organisms. This process involves a well-functioning machinery of death, which are the main component of cysteine ​​proteases - caspases family. These enzymes are present in cells in a latent form and become activated during apoptosis induced by various factors. This review summarizes the progress made on structure, mechanism of activation, catalytic properties, are substrates of caspases and regulation of their activity. Also shown in the involvement of caspases in the major pathways of apoptosis.