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Evaluation of caspase activity in apoptotic cells
Camilla Köhler1, Sten Orrenius, Boris Zhivotovsky
1Division of Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
Journal of Immunological Methods
|June 20, 2002
Summary
Caspases are key enzymes in apoptosis, mediating cell death. Detecting activated caspases provides a vital marker for apoptosis, with various methods available for analysis.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Caspases, a family of cysteine proteases, are crucial for apoptosis.
- Activated caspases trigger characteristic cellular changes during programmed cell death.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review methods for detecting and quantifying caspase activation.
- To highlight the role of activated caspases as biomarkers for apoptosis.
Main Methods:
- Immunoblotting
- Cleavage of synthetic substrates
- Affinity labeling
- Confocal microscopy
Main Results:
- Discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each reviewed method.
- Highlights the utility of caspase activation detection as an apoptosis marker.
Conclusions:
- Caspase activation is a central event in apoptosis.
- Various techniques exist for characterizing and quantifying caspase activation, aiding in apoptosis research.