Cell Meter(TM) Generic Fluorometric Caspase Activity Assay Kit *Optimized Red Fluorescence for Flow

The Cell Meter(TM) assay kits are a set of tools for monitoring cell viability. There are a variety of parameters that can be used for monitoring cell viability. This particular kit is designed to monitor cell apoptosis through measuring generic caspases (caspase-1, -3, -4, -5, -6, -7, -8 and -9) activation in living cells. Caspases activation is widely accepted as a reliable indicator for cell apoptosis. Most caspases have substrate selectivity for the peptide sequence Val-Ala-Asp (VAD). This kit uses TF5-VAD-FMK as a fluorogenic indicator for most caspase activity. TF5-VAD-FMK is cell permeable, nontoxic, and irreversibly binds to activated casepase-1, -3, -4, -5, -6, -7, -8 and -9 in apoptotic cells. Once bound to caspases, the red fluorescent reagent is retained within the cell. The binding event prevents the caspases from further catalysis but will not stop apoptosis from proceeding. The reagent will start to react with active caspase enzymes within 15 minutes of addition to the media. The kit provides all the essential components with an optimized assay protocol. It is used for the quantification of most activated caspases activities in apoptotic cells, or for screening caspases inhibitors.