AnaSpec Launches New SensoLyteTM Caspase-8 Assay Kit

October 11, 2007 – San Jose, CA - Recognizing the growing need for innovative tools for the study of apoptosis, AnaSpec continues to expand its collection of fluorimetric apoptosis related assay products. Today AnaSpec introduced its newest offering – the SensoLyte™ Homogeneous AFC Caspase-8 Assay Kit.

Apoptosis is programmed cell death which leads to the elimination of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells without releasing harmful substances into the surrounding area. Apoptosis is involved in a variety of physiological and pathological events,1 ranging from normal fetal development to diseases, such as cancer,2 organ failure and neurodegenerative diseases. Caspases are proteases which play essential roles in apoptosis and inflammation. There are two types of apoptotic caspases: initiator caspases and effector caspases. Caspase-8, an initiator enzyme, also known as Mch5, MACH and FLICE, accepts signals from death receptors (FAS, TRAIL, TNF) and activates downstream effector caspases through proteolytic cleavage.3,4 Activated effector caspases induce apoptosis through cleavage of other cellular substrates such as PARP and DFF.

The SensoLyte™ Homogeneous AFC Caspase-8 Assay Kit uses Ac-IETD-AFC as the fluorogenic indicator to measure caspase-8 activity. Upon cleavage of the substrate by caspase-8, free AFC (7-amido-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin) emits a yellow-green fluorescence, which can be quantified at excitation/emission=380nm/500nm. A bi-functional assay buffer in this kit is optimized for cell lysis and measurement of the enzyme activity. This kit can assay caspase-8 activity in cells grown in a 96-well plate or in larger plates or flasks. The kit is adaptable for high throughput screening of apoptosis inducers and inhibitors.

Company Info
AnaSpec, Inc. is a leading provider of integrated proteomics solutions to pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic research institutions throughout the world. With a vision for innovation through synergy, AnaSpec focuses on three core technologies: peptides, detection reagents (dyes, assay kits, & antibodies), and combinatorial chemistry.
For more information, visit www.anaspec.com

References:
1. Thornberry, NA. and Y. Lazebnik, Science 281, 1312 (1998).
2. Reed, JC. J. Clin. Oncol 17, 2941 (1999).
3. Muzio, M. et al. J. Biol. Chem 272, 2952 (1997).
4. Takahashi, A. et al. Oncogene 14, 2741 (1997).