Caspase 6, cleaved, active (Mch2)

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a common property of all multicellular organisms. The current dogma of apoptosis suggests that the components of the core cell-death machinery are integral to cells and widely conserved across species. Caspases, a family of cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteases, are integral components of the cell death machinery (reviewed in Siegal, 2006; and Lavrik et al, 2005). They play a central role in the initiation and execution of apoptotic cell death and in inflammation. Caspases are typically divided into 3 major groups, depending on the structure of their prodomain and their function. Group 1: inflammatory caspases (caspases 1, 4, 5, 11, 12, 14). Group II: initiator of apoptosis caspases (caspases 2, 8, 9). Group II: effector caspases (caspases 3, 6, 7). Caspases are constitutively expressed in almost all cell types as inactive proenzymes (zymogens: enzyme precursors which require a biochemical change to become active enzymes) that are processed and activated in response to a variety of pro-apoptotic or inflammatory stimuli. The procaspases (32-56kD) contain four domains: an N-terminal prodomain (2-25kD), a large subunit (p20: 17-21kD), a small subunit (p10: 10-13kD) and a short linker region between the large and small subunits. Caspase activation involves proteolytic processing of the proenzyme at specific aspartate residues between the domains. This results in removal of the prodomain as well as the linker region and formation of a heterodimer containing one large and one small subunit (p20-p10). The active caspase is a tetramer composed of two heterodimers (p202-p102). Active caspases mediate cell death and inflammation through cleavage of particular cellular substrates that are involved in these processes. The Active/Cleaved Caspase-6 IMG-5701 polyclonal antisera recognizes the large and small subunits of active/cleaved caspase-6. Whereas the antisera has a strong preference for active/cleaved caspase-6, in some cell or tissue systems or techniques the antisera may also recognize the ~34kD proform of caspase-6 as well as intermediate caspase-6 cleavage fragments. Positive Control: Cells or tissues undergoing apoptosis, CNS, liver, spleen. Applications: Suitable for use in Western Blot, Immunoprecipitation and Immunohistochemistry (Fr) (paraffin-embedded sections). Other applications not tested. Recommended Dilution: Western Blot: 1:1000-1:2000. Immunohistochemistry (paraffin-embedded sections): 1:1000-1:5000. Immunoprecipitation: 1:50-1:200. Optimal dilutions to be determined by the researcher. Storage and Stability: May be stored at 4 degrees C for short-term only. For long-term storage and to avoid repeated freezing and thawing, aliquot and store at -20 degrees C. Aliquots are stable for at least 12 months at -20 degrees C. For maximum recovery of product, centrifuge the original vial after thawing and prior to removing the cap. Further dilutions can be made in assay buffer.