What do initiator caspases do?

Initiator caspases initiate the apoptosis signal while the executioner caspases carry out the mass proteolysis that leads to apoptosis. Initially synthesized as inactive pro-caspases, caspases become rapidly cleaved and activated in response to granzyme B, death receptors, and apoptosome stimuli.

How are initiator caspases activated?

Initiator caspases are activated by intrinsic and extrinsic apoptopic pathways. This leads to the activation of other caspases including executioner caspases that carry out apoptosis by cleaving cellular components.

Which caspase is a initiator caspase?

Caspase-8, caspase-10 and caspase-9 are believed to be the initiator caspases at the top of the caspase signaling cascade. Recruitment of caspases to DISC and apoptosome leads to their activation by dimer formation.

Which is an initiator of caspase-8 end point assay?

Caspase-8 is an initiator caspase. It functions to activate effector caspases (e.g. caspases-3 and -7). End point assay for the detection of active caspases. Fluorescent inhibitor of caspases interacts with the caspase enzymatic site.

How does the initiator caspases antibody sampler kit work?

Each antibody in the Initiator Caspases Antibody Sampler Kit recognizes its respective target at endogenous levels. Caspase-3 (D3R6Y) Rabbit mAb detects full-length caspase-3 (35 kDa) as well as the large subunit (p20) of caspase-3 resulting from cleavage during apoptosis.

Which is the best caspase 9 assay kit?

Find out more. Caspase 9 Assay Kit (Colorimetric) ab65608 provides a simple and convenient means for assaying the activity of caspases that recognize the sequence LEHD. The caspase 9 assay is based on spectrophotometric detection of the chromophore p-nitroanilide (p-NA) after cleavage from the labeled substrate LEHD-p-NA.

How are the prodomains of a caspase activated?

Depending on the structure of their prodomains, caspases are activated by different mechanisms. Long prodomain-containing initiator caspases exist as inactive monomers and are activated by proximity-induced dimerization which can sometimes be facilitated by adaptor proteins.