Ac-LEHD-AMC

Caspase 9 is a member of the CED-3 subfamily of the caspase family of cysteine proteases that play an essential role in the execution phase of apoptosis. These enzymes share a dominant primary specificity for cleaving bonds following aspartic acid residues. Initiator caspases (such as caspase 8) activate effector caspases, such as caspases 3 and 7. The effector caspases then cleave cellular substrates ultimately leading to the morphological changes of apoptosis. Ac-LHED-AMC is a selective fluorogenic substrate for caspase 9. The caspase 9-induced hydrolysis of Ac-LHED-AMC results in the release of AMC fluorophore that is detected using an excitation wavelength of approx. 365 nm and an emission wavelengh of approx. 450 nm. The assay can be run in the assay buffer consisting of 50 mM MES, pH 6.5, 10% PEG 8000, 0.1% CHAPS, 5 mM DTT, and 1 mM EDTA.