Caspases, or cysteine-aspartic proteases, are a family of cysteine proteases that play essential roles in inflammation, apoptosis and necrosis.They are often referred to as the "executioners of apoptosis."Caspases are synthesized as inactive proenzymes comprising an N-terminal peptide (prodomain) together with one large and one small subunit.Active caspase-1 and -3 are heterodimers, containing two small and two large subunits.Active Caspase-3 subunits are 17kD (p17) and 12kD (p12).Pro Caspase-3 is inactive and has virtually no activity until it is cleaved by an initiator caspase.It is activated by Caspases -8, -9 and -10 ("initiator caspases") and then effects apoptosis by cleaving targeted cellular proteins.

This antibody will detect the pro form and p17 and p12 active forms of Caspase-3.

The large subunit domain of human Caspase-3 was used as the immunogen for this monoclonal antibody.

Aliquot the Pro and Active Caspase-3 antibody and store frozen at -20oC or colder to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

CASP3