Caspases are a family of protease enzymes that play essential roles in programmed cell death, termed apoptosis. Caspase-3 is a caspase protein that interacts with caspase-8 and caspase-9 and sequential activation of plays a central role in the execution-phase of cellular apoptosis.The BioTracker NucView 405 Blue Caspase-3 Dye provides a convenient live cell tool for profiling apoptotic cell populations based on caspase-3/7 activity using either fluorescence microscopy or flow cytometry. In contrast to other fluorogenic caspase substrates or fluorescent caspase inhibitor based (FLICA) assays, the BioTracker NucView 405 Caspase-3 Dye can be used to detect caspase-3/7 activity within individual intact cells without inhibiting apoptosis progression. The substrate consists of a fluorogenic DNA dye coupled to the caspase-3/7 DEVD recognition sequence. The substrate, which is initially non-fluorescent, penetrates the plasma membrane and enters the cytoplasm. In apoptotic cells, caspase-3/7 cleaves the substrate, releasing the high-affinity DNA dye, which migrates to the cell nucleus and stains DNA with bright blue fluorescence. Thus, NucView 405 Caspase-3 Substrate is bifunctional, allowing detection of caspase-3/7 activity and visualization of morphological changes in the nucleus during apoptosis. The dye is formaldehyde-fixable and compatible with subsequent immunostaining. The dye is offered in DMSO and PBS (phosphate-buffered saline) formulations. The substrate in PBS is formulated for use in cells that are sensitive to DMSO toxicity. NucView 405 dye is excited by the 405nm laser line for detection by confocal microscopy in the DAPI channel, or by flow cytometry in the Pacific Blue channel. NucView 405 is ideal for caspase-3 detection in multi-color applications for researchers who wish to reserve the green fluorescence channel for other detection reagents.Spectral PropertiesAbsorbance: 429nmEmission: 469nm
Synonyms: Live cell imaging probe
Application: Research Sub CategoryLive Cell Dye
Legal Information: NucView is a registered trademark of Biotium Inc.