Caspase Substrates

Caspases (cysteine-dependent aspartate-specific protease) are a family of proteases known for their central role in cell death and inflammation. Caspase assays are commonly performed as a means of evaluating apoptosis among cells. Thus, caspase substrates provide a means to detect and measure caspase activity. These short peptide sequences labeled with fluorophores or dyes, once recognized and cleaved by a given caspase, produce measurable changes in fluorescence or visible color. Peptide substrates are typically four to five amino acids in length and are caspase-specific.