Caspase-2 Colorimetric Assay Kit

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-2 is a member of the caspase family. Caspase-2, as well as caspase-8, -9 and -10, is an initiator caspase. Caspase-2 has a strict requirement for an Asp residue for proteolytic activity and has a preferred cleavage sequence of Val-Asp-Val-Ala-Asp- (VDVAD).

 Caspase-2 Colorimetric Assay Kit provides a convenient and simple way for detecting the VDVAD-dependent caspase activity. When cleavage of VDVAD from the labeled substrate VDVAD-p-nitroaniline (VDVAD-pNA) by Caspase-2 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-2 activity.