Caspase-2 Fluorometric 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 Fluorometric Assay Kit provides a convenient and simple way for detecting the VDVAD-dependent caspase activity. VDVAD-AFC (AFC: 7-amino-4-trifluoromethyl coumarin) emits blue light (λmax = 400 nm); while cleavage of the substrate VDVAD-AFC by Caspase-2 or related caspases, free AFC emits a yellow-green fluorescence (λmax = 505 nm), which can be quantified by using a fluorecence microtiter plate reader or a fluorometer. Comparison of the fluorescence of free AFC from an apoptotic sample with an uninduced control determines the fold increase in Caspase-2 activity.