Caspase-3 Assay

Caspase-3 is a member of caspases that plays a key role in mediating apoptosis, or programmed cell death. Upon activation, it cleaves a variety of cellular proteins, causing morphological and functional changes to cells undergoing apoptosis. The ScienCell Caspase-3 Assay provides a quick and convenient method to measure caspase-3 activity. The colorimetric assay is based on the spectrophotometric detection of the chromophore p- nitroanilide (pNA) after its cleavage by caspases-3 from the labeled substrate acetyl-Asp-glu-Val-Asp p- nitroanilide (Ac-DEVD-pNA). The concentration of pNA is measured by absorbance at 405 nm. The caspase-3 activity can be calculated as μmol of pNA released per minute per milliliter of cell lysate.