Regulation of human caspase-1-like protease

1. A method of screening for candidate therapeutic agents, comprising the steps of:

contacting a protein comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:6 with a test compound;

assaying for binding between the protein and the test compound; and

identifying a test compound that binds to the protein as a candidate therapeutic agent that may be useful for regulating activity of the protein.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein either the test compound or the protein comprises a detectable label.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein either the test compound or the protein is bound to a solid support.