Apoptosis Detection

Apoptosis is an evolutionarily conserved form of cell suicide mediated by a cascade of proteolytic enzymes known as cysteine proteases, or caspases. Pro-apoptotic signals activate the enzymatic cascade resulting in the cleavage of protein substrates, leading to the disassembly of the cell (1-4). Caspases have been identified in organisms ranging from C. elegans to humans. Members of the mammalian caspase family of cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteases play distinct roles in apoptosis and inflammation.

ImmunoChemistry Technologies offers a wide range of apoptosis detection products for apoptosis assessment in vitro, in vivo and in real time.

in vitro
FLICA^® Caspase Detection Kits are inhibitor-based assays containing fluorescent caspase inhibitor probes for caspase 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13 or poly caspase detection.

MitoPT™ Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Assay Kits detect the change in mitochondrial membrane potential to assess mitochondrial depolarization as a result of apoptosis or oxidative stress.

in vivo
FLIVO™ in vivo Apoptosis Kits allow for the in vivo detection of apoptotic cells and tissues by labeling active caspases with our non-toxic apoptosis probes.

in real time
Magic Red™ Caspase 3&7 Assay Kits offer a no wash, substrate-based assay for real-time visualization of caspase 3&7 activation.

References:

1. Slee, E. A., C. Adrain, and S. J. Maritin. (1999) Serial Killers: ordering caspase activation events in apoptosis. Cell Death Differ. 6:1067-1074.
2. Earnshaw, W.C., Martins, L.M., and Kaufmann, S.H. (1999) Mammalian caspases: structure, activation, substrates, and functions during apoptosis. Ann. Rev. Biochem. 68:383-424.
3. Hengartner, M.O. (2000) The biochemistry of apoptosis. Nature 407:770-816.
4. Degterev, A., Boyce, M., and Yuan, J. (2003) A decade of caspases. Oncogene 22:8543-8567.