Anti-Caspase 3 (CPP-32, Apoptain, Yama, SCA-1)

Apoptosis or programmed cell death is a fundamental cellular process that is essential for normal tissue development and abnormal growth such as cancer, neurodegeneration, autoimmune diseases, and angiogenesis, etc. Apoptosis is driven by specialized proteases known as caspases. After the initial discovery of the first mammalian caspase 1 or ICE (interleukin 1 beta converting enzyme), a growing family of caspases 1-14 have been cloned and characterized. Caspases are synthesized as inactive zymogen or proenzyme forms (30-55kD), which upon apoptotic stimulation are proteolytically processed (self or by other proteins) in a sequential manner into their active heterotetrameric forms. The processed form consists of large subunit (17-20kD) and a small (10-12kD) subunits, which may associate to form an active enzyme. Functionally active caspases initiate a proteolytic cascade, capable of cleaving and activating numerous cellular targets including PARP, G4-GDI, DFF, MEKK, etc. On a functional basis, two categories of caspases have been defined: the initiator caspases (caspases-8, -9, and -10) are activated in the earlier phases of apoptosis, whereas the executioner caspases (caspases-3, -6, and -7) are activated by initiator caspases and are responsible for dismantling cellular components. Caspase-3, (also known as CPP32, APOPAIN, PARP CLEAVAGE PROTEASE, CASP-3) mapped at human chromosome 4Q35 is a cytoplasmic enzyme which proteolytically cleaves poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), cleaves and activates sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs), Casp-6, -7 and -9. Caspase-3 is also involved in amyloid-beta 4A precursor protein (APP) cleavage in dying neurons of Alzheimer disease. Mouse/rat/human Casp-3 (277aa) is composed of two subunits of ~17 and 12kD derived from a 45kD proenzyme CPP32. Human Caspase-3 is expressed in larger amounts in lung, spleen, heart, liver and kidney. moderate levels in brain and skeletal muscle, and low in testis. CASP3s (182aa), a splice variant lacking the 95 residues from the c-term of Casp-3 has been reported. Mouse Casp-3 is expressed in heart, brain, liver and muscle but not in kidney or testis. , Applications:, Suitable for use in Western Blot and ELISA. Other applications not tested. Recommended Dilution: Western Blotting (1-10ug/ml for affinity pure antibody using ECL technique). The antibody will recognize ~34kD Casp-3 as well as the 20-kD, and 18-Kda processed forms of Casp-3. A week non-sp band of ~30kD may be detected in some samples., ELISA: Pure protein can be used to coat ELISA plates at 1ug/ml and detected with antibodies (0.5-1ug/ml for affinity pure)., Optimal dilution determined by the researcher. Anti-human casp-3 cross-react with mouse, rat, bovine, monkey, pig, hamster, and sheep casp-3. Purified human Casp-3 can be used as positive control. , Storage and Stability:, May be stored at 4°C for short-term only. For long-term storage, store at -20°C. Aliquots are stable for at least 12 months at -20°C. For maximum recovery of product, centrifuge the original vial after thawing and prior to removing the cap. Further dilutions can be made in assay buffer.