FLICA® Kits

Whole cell assays for detection of apoptosis, caspase activity, and necrosis in cultured cells

• Sensitive and early indicator of the initiation of the apoptotic process
• Distinguish apoptosis from necrosis
• Whole cell analysis
• Green and red caspase assays available
• Detect poly caspase activity or individual caspase enzymes

FLICA^® caspase assays provide an excellent method for in vitro, whole cell detection of caspase activity in apoptotic or caspase-positive cells. The membrane-permeant, fluorescent inhibitor-based FLICA probes form covalent bonds with activated caspase enzymes and are retained in cells bearing active caspases. FLICA probes are not retained in non-apoptotic cells following a simple wash process.

FLICA^® (Fluorescent Labeled Inhibitor of Caspases) caspase detection probes are comprised of an affinity peptide inhibitor sequence, a fluoromethyl ketone (FMK) moiety that facilitates an irreversible binding event with the activated caspase enzyme, and a fluorescent tag reporter. Necrotic and late apoptotic cells can be concurrently identified in green FLICA-labeled cells with the red fluorescent propidium iodide vital dye (included in FAM-FLICA^® kits) or with red fluorescent 7-AAD or DRAQ7™ vital dyes. Nuclear morphology can be visualized with the use of Hoechst 33342 Stain (cat. #639, included in FAM and SR-FLICA kits) or DAPI nuclear stain (cat. #6244). The green or red fluorescent FLICA^® signal may be easily monitored using fluorescence microscopy, fluorescence plate reader analysis, or flow cytometry.

Product Catalog: 2012 Fluorescent Probes and Whole Cell Assays Application Guide