Apoptosis is related to many diseases and induced by a family of cell death receptors and their ligands. Cell death signals are transduced by death domain containing adapter molecules and members of the caspase family of proteases. The mammalian homologues of the key cell death gene CED-4 in C. elegans has been identified recently from human and mouse and designated Apaf-1 (for apoptosis protease-activating factor 1). Apaf-1 binds to cytochrome c (Apaf-2) and caspase-9 (Apaf-3), which leads to caspase-9 activation. Activated caspase-9 in turn cleaves and activates caspase-3 that is one of the key proteases, being responsible for the proteolytic cleavage of many key proteins in apoptosis. Apaf-1 can also associate with caspase-4 and caspase-8. Apaf-1 is ubiquitously expressed in human tissues.
Applications:
Suitable for use in ELISA, Western Blot and Immunohistochemistry. Other applications not tested.
Recommended Dilution:
Western Blot: 1-2ug/ml
Immunohistochemistry: 1ug/ml
Optimal dilutions to be determined by the researcher.
Positive Control:
HeLa whole cell lysate
Storage and Stability:
May be stored at 4 degrees C for short-term only. Aliquot to avoid repeated freezing and thawing. Store at -20 degrees C. Aliquots are stable for at least 12 months. For maximum recovery of product, centrifuge the original vial after thawing and prior to removing the cap.