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Background
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Peptide substrate labeled at the carboxy end with AFC (7-amino-4-trifluoromethyl coumarin). Designed to measure caspase-3(CPP32) activity or caspase-1, -4, -7, -8, or -10 activities in vitro. Caspase-3 is a member of the caspase family of proteases involved in apoptosis induction. All apoptotic pathways studied to date involve proteolytic activation of caspase-3 as a central event in the progression of cell death. Although the death-inducing consequences of caspase-3 activation have not been conclusively established, several crucial substrates for the protease have been identified in vitro, including DNA-dependent protein kinase, Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase (PARP), Replication factor C, and gelsolin. These substrates are involved in the later stages of apoptosis, strongly suggesting that caspase-3 has a key role in promoting the final processes leading to cell death.
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