Final answer:
The caspase family, which includes active caspases such as X, Y, and Z, serves as the main executioners of apoptosis by digesting cellular proteins. Granzyme, another type of protease, also plays a role in inducing apoptosis through a pathway used by NK cells and killer T cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The caspase family is a family of more than a dozen proteases that act as the executioners of apoptosis. Active caspases, such as caspase X, Y, and Z, are released and act as proteolytic enzymes, which digest cellular proteins during the apoptosis process. Mitochondrial exit of cytochrome C promotes the formation of a complex that activates procaspases to their active forms, furthering the auto-digestion of the cell. Additionally, granzyme is another type of protease that can induce apoptosis by entering target cells through perforin. This pathway is primarily utilized by NK cells and killer T cells to target and eliminate abnormal cells.