Which of the following is a characteristic feature of effector caspases?

Effector caspases are crucial components of the apoptotic process, and their primary function is to execute the death program within the cell. Once activated, they cleave various substrates that lead to the morphological and biochemical changes associated with apoptosis, such as DNA fragmentation, cell shrinkage, and membrane blebbing. This role of carrying out the death program is what defines them as effector caspases.

Additionally, effector caspases are distinct from initiator caspases, which are involved in the initial signaling upstream of apoptosis. They are not active in the apoptosome directly; rather, the apoptosome is where initiator caspases are activated. Effector caspases are not anti-apoptotic; in fact, they promote apoptosis, which aligns with their function in executing the death program.