Caspase-3 Colorimetric Assay Kit

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Background

Cysteine-dependent aspartate-directed proteases (Caspases) are a family of cysteine proteases that play important roles in apoptosis, necrosis, and inflammation. Sequential activation of caspases plays an important role in cell apoptosis. Caspase-3 is a caspase protein that cleaves and activates caspases 6 and 7, and is processed and activated by caspases 8, 9, and 10. Caspase-3 is the predominant caspase involved in the cleavage of amyloid-beta 4A precursor protein, which is associated with Alzheimer's disease. Caspase-3 recognizes tetra-peptide sequences D-x-x-D and hydrolyzes peptide bonds after aspartic acid residues.
Caspase-3 Colorimetric Assay Kit provides a convenient and simple way for detecting the DEVD-dependent caspase activity. When cleavage of DEVD from the labeled substrate DEVD-p-nitroaniline (DEVD-pNA) by Caspase-3 or related caspases, the free pNA light emission can be quantified by using a microtiter plate reader or a spectrophotometer at 405 or 400 nm. Comparison of the absorbance of free pNA from an apoptotic sample with an uninduced control determines the fold increase in caspase-3 activity.