Carboxyfluorescein multi-caspase activity kit

The Carboxyfluorescein Multi-Caspase Activity Kit detects apoptosis through the covalent binding of a green fluorescent probe to active caspase enzymes in living cells. The carboxyfluorescein-labeled caspase inhibitor probe (FAM-VAD-FMK; excitation at 490 nm and emission at 520 nm), comprising a carboxyfluorescein derivative of valylalanylaspartic acid fluoromethyl ketone (VAD-FMK), covalently binds to the reactive cysteine (Cys 285) on the large subunit of active caspase heterodimers. This probe is both cell permeable and non-cytotoxic during the time of the labeling procedure and allows detection of apoptosis by fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, and 96-well-plate based fluorometry. Use of the fluorescence microscope provides a qualitative view of the level of apoptosis induced as compared to the use of a fluorometer or a flow cytometer which will generate quantitative data. The Sulforhodamine Multi-Caspase Activity Kit for Apoptosis Detection is a related kit that contains a sulforhodamine-labeled probe (Ex: 550, Em: 595).