Released on: October 9, 2007, 8:34 am

Press Release Author: AnaSpec Inc.

Industry: Biotech

Press Release Summary: AnaSpec introduces its newest offering - the SensoLyteT
Homogeneous AFC Caspase-8 Assay Kit

Press Release Body: October 8, 2007 - San Jose, CA

Recognizing the growing need for innovative tools for the study of apoptosis,
AnaSpec continues to expand its collection of fluorimetric apoptosis related assay
products. Today AnaSpec introduced its newest offering - the SensoLyteT Homogeneous
AFC Caspase-8 Assay Kit.

Apoptosis is programmed cell death which leads to the elimination of damaged,
unwanted, or unneeded cells without releasing harmful substances into the
surrounding area. Apoptosis is involved in a variety of physiological and
pathological events,1 ranging from normal fetal development to diseases, such as
cancer,2 organ failure and neurodegenerative diseases. Caspases are proteases which
play essential roles in apoptosis and inflammation. There are two types of apoptotic
caspases: initiator caspases and effector caspases. Caspase-8, an initiator enzyme,
also known as Mch5, MACH and FLICE, accepts signals from death receptors (FAS,
TRAIL, TNF) and activates downstream effector caspases through proteolytic
cleavage.3,4 Activated effector caspases induce apoptosis through cleavage of other
cellular substrates such as PARP and DFF.

The SensoLyteT Homogeneous AFC Caspase-8 Assay Kit uses Ac-IETD-AFC as the
fluorogenic indicator to measure caspase-8 activity. Upon cleavage of the substrate
by caspase-8, free AFC (7-amido-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin) emits a yellow-green
fluorescence, which can be quantified at excitation/emission=380nm/500nm. A
bi-functional assay buffer in this kit is optimized for cell lysis and measurement
of the enzyme activity. This kit can assay caspase-8 activity in cells grown in a
96-well plate or in larger plates or flasks. The kit is adaptable for high
throughput screening of apoptosis inducers and inhibitors.

Company Info
AnaSpec, Inc. is a leading provider of integrated proteomics solutions to
pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic research institutions throughout the world.
With a vision for innovation through synergy, AnaSpec focuses on three core
technologies: peptides, detection reagents (dyes, assay kits, & antibodies), and
combinatorial chemistry.
For more information, visit www.anaspec.com

References:
1. Thornberry, NA. and Y. Lazebnik, Science 281, 1312 (1998).
2. Reed, JC. J. Clin. Oncol 17, 2941 (1999).
3. Muzio, M. et al. J. Biol. Chem 272, 2952 (1997).
4. Takahashi, A. et al. Oncogene 14, 2741 (1997).



Web Site: http://www.anaspec.com

Contact Details: 2149 O\'Toole Ave.
San Jose, CA 95131
ping@anaspec.com