Released on = September 5, 2006, 4:58 pm

Press Release Author = Debra Thai

Industry = Biotech

Press Release Summary = Caspases are a family of cysteine-dependent aspartate
specific proteases involved in the destruction of cells. In a normal, healthy human
being, damaged or mutated cells are regularly destroyed to protect the rest of the
body.

Press Release Body = The induction of caspase-dependent programmed cell death
triggers a tightly-controlled cascade of events with the initiator caspases
activating effector caspases. These effector caspases not only activate other
effector caspases and provide feedback to initiator caspases, they also cleave
cellular substrates resulting in morphological changes such as DNA fragmentation,
membrane blebbing or apoptotic body formation. These changes, characteristics of
apoptosis, ultimately lead to the death of a cell. Caspases, however, may not be the
only enzymes involved in cell death; cell death may still occur even if all caspases
are all blocked (Reviewed in 1).

Because of their important role in apoptosis and cell signaling, and their
identification as drug-screening targets, there is a recognized need for a wide
range of caspase substrates and inhibitors. As a leading provider of premium quality
peptides and detection reagents, AnaSpec has introduced an extensive list of caspase
substrates (including both chromogenic and fluorogenic variations) and caspase
inhibitors.

For additional information, visit www.anaspec.com

Reference:
1. Thornberry, NA. and Y. Lazebnik, Science 281, 1312-1316 (1998).



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