Caspase-4 Fluorometric Assay Kit

Caspase-4 belongs to the Caspase-family of cysteine proteases. Caspase-4 is an enzyme that proteolytically cleaves other proteins at an aspartic acid residue. Caspase-4 exists in cells as an inactive proenzyme. It is matured by proteolysis. The active Caspase-4 is a heterotetramer contain two large and two small subunits. The function of Caspase 4 is believed to be an inflammatory caspase, together with Caspase-1, Caspase-5, with a role in the immune system.

Apoptosis in mammalian cells is caused by activation of ICE-family proteases/caspases. The Caspase-4 Fluorometric Assay Kit provides a fast and simple means to assay the activity of caspases that recognize the sequence LEVD. The assay is according to detection of cleavage of substrate LEVD-AFC (AFC: 7-amino-4-trifluoromethyl coumarin). LEVD-AFC emits blue light (400 nm); free AFC emits a yellow-green fluorescence (505 nm) upon cleavage of the substrate by Caspase-4 or other related Caspases. Using a fluorometer or a fluorecence microtiter plate reader can quantify the fluorescence. Comparison of the fluorescence of AFC from an apoptotic sample with an un-induced control allows determination of the fold increase in LEVD-dependent Caspase activity.