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Cell Meter™ Live Cell Caspase 3/7 Binding Assay Kit *Red Fluorescence*

Our Cell Meter™ live cell caspases activity assay kits are based on fluorescent FMK inhibitors of caspases. These inhibitors are cell permeable and non-cytotoxic. Once inside the cell, the caspase inhibitors bind covalently to the active caspases. The activation of caspase 3/7 is important for the initiation of apoptosis. It has been proven that caspase 3/7 has substrate selectivity for the peptide sequence Asp-Glu-Val-Asp (DEVD). This kit uses TF3-DEVD-FMK as a fluorescent indicator for caspase 3/7 activity. TF3-DEVD-FMK irreversibly binds to activated caspase 3/7 in apoptotic cells. Once bound to caspase 3/7, the fluorescent reagent is retained inside the cell. The binding event inhibits caspase 3/7 but will not stop apoptosis from proceeding. There are a variety of parameters that can be used for monitoring cell apoptosis. This Cell Meter™ Live Cell Caspase 3/7 Activity Assay Kit is designed to detect cell apoptosis by measuring caspase 3/7 activation in live cells. It is used for the quantification of activated caspase 3/7 activities in apoptotic cells, or for screening caspase 3/7 inhibitors. TF3-DEVD-FMK, the red label reagent, allows for direct detection of activated caspase 3/7 in apoptotic cells by fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometer, or fluorescent microplate reader. The kit provides all the essential components with an optimized assay protocol.

Example protocol

AT A GLANCE

Protocol summary

  1. Prepare cells with test compounds at a density of 5 × 105 to 2 × 106 cells/mL
  2. Add TF3-DEVD-FMK into cell solution at 1:150 ratio
  3. Incubate at room temperature for 1 hour
  4. Pellet the cells, wash and resuspend the cells with buffer or growth medium
  5. Monitor fluorescence intensity (bottom read mode) at Ex/Em = 550/595 nm (Cutoff = 570 nm), fluorescence microscope with TRITC filter, or flow cytometer with FL1 channel

Important notes
Thaw all the components at room temperature before starting the experiment.

PREPARATION OF STOCK SOLUTION

Unless otherwise noted, all unused stock solutions should be divided into single-use aliquots and stored at -20 °C after preparation. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

1. TF3-DEVD-FMK stock solution (150X):
Add 50 µL of DMSO into the vial of TF3-DEVD-FMK (Component A) to make 150X TF3-DEVD-FMK stock solution.

For guidelines on cell sample preparation, please visit
https://www.aatbio.com/resources/guides/cell-sample-preparation.html

SAMPLE EXPERIMENTAL PROTOCOL

  1. Culture cells to a density optimal for apoptosis induction according to your specific induction protocol, but not to exceed 2 x 106 cells/ mL. At the same time, culture a non-induced negative control cell population at the same density as the induced population for every labeling condition.  Here are a few examples for inducing apoptosis in suspension culture:
    1. Treating Jurkat cells with 2 µg/ml camptothecin for 3 hours.
    2. Treating Jurkat cells with 1 µM staurosporine for 3 hours.
    3. Treating HL-60 cells with 4 µg/ml camptothecin for 4 hours.
    4. Treating HL-60 cells with 1 µM staurosporine for 4 hours. Note: Each cell line should be evaluated on an individual basis to determine the optimal cell density for apoptosis induction.
  2. Add 150X TF3-DEVD-FMK stock solution into the cell solution at a 1:150 ratio, and incubate the cells in a 37°C, 5% CO2 incubator for 1 hour. Note: The cells can be concentrated up to ~ 5 X 106 cells/mL for TF3-DEVD-FMK labeling. For adherent cells, gently lift the cells with 0.5 mM EDTA to keep the cells intact, and wash the cells once with serum-containing media prior to incubation with TF3-DEVD-FMK. The appropriate incubation time depends on the individual cell type and cell concentration used. Optimize the incubation time for each experiment.

  3. Spin down the cells at ~ 200g for 5 minutes, and wash cells with 1 mL Washing Buffer (Component B) twice. Resuspend the cells in desired amount of washing buffer. Note: TF3-DEVD-FMK is fluorescent, thus it is important to wash out any unbound reagent to eliminate the background. For detached cells, the concentration of cells should be adjusted to 2 - 5 X 105 cells/100 µL aliquot per microtiter plate well.

  4. If desired, label the cells with a DNA stain (such as Nuclear Green™ DCS1 for dead cells, or Hoechst for whole population of the cell nucleus stain).

  5. Monitor the fluorescence intensity by fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometer, or fluorescence microplate reader at Ex/Em = 550/595 nm (for Nuclear Green™ DCS1, Ex/Em = 490/525 nm, for Hoechst dyes, Ex/Em = 350/461 nm).

    For flow cytometry: Monitor the fluorescence intensity using the channel with Ex/Em = 550/595 nm (FL1 channel for Nuclear Green™ DCS1 staining). Gate on the cells of interest, excluding debris.

    For fluorescence microscope: Place 100 µL of the cell suspensions into each of wells of a 96-well black microtiter plate. Observe cells under a fluorescence microscope using TRITC channel (FITC channel for Nuclear Green™ DCS1 staining, DAPI channel for Hoechst staining).

    For fluorescence microplate reader: Place 100 µL of the cell suspensions into each of wells of a 96-well black microtiter plate. Monitor the fluorescence intensity (bottom read mode) with a fluorescence microplate reader at Ex/Em = 550/595 nm (Cutoff = 570 nm). Note: If it is necessary to equilibrate the cell concentrations, adjust the suspension volume for the induced cells to approximate the cell density of the non-induced population. This adjustment step is optional if your cell treatment does not result in a dramatic loss in stimulated cell population numbers.

Spectrum

Product family

NameExcitation (nm)Emission (nm)Extinction coefficient (cm -1 M -1)Correction Factor (260 nm)Correction Factor (280 nm)
Cell Meter™ Live Cell Caspase 3/7 Binding Assay Kit *Green Fluorescence*493517830000.320.178

Citations

View all 10 citations: Citation Explorer
Executioner caspases degrade essential mediators of pathogen-host interactions to inhibit growth of intracellular Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Walch, Michael and Lavergne, Marilyne and Schaerer, Raffael and Bouheraoua, Safaa and Adenuga, Oluwadamilola and Muralt, Tanja and Schaerer, Tiffany and Ch{\`e}vre, L{\'e}a and Failla, Alessandro and Matthey, Patricia and others,
Journal: (2024)
Evidence that polyphenols do not inhibit the phospholipid scramblase TMEM16F
Authors: Le, Trieu and Le, Son C and Zhang, Yang and Liang, Pengfei and Yang, Huanghe
Journal: Journal of Biological Chemistry (2020): 12537--12544
Drosophila Subdued is a moonlighting transmembrane protein 16 (TMEM16) that transports ions and phospholipids
Authors: Le, Trieu and Le, Son C and Yang, Huanghe
Journal: Journal of Biological Chemistry (2019): jbc--AC118
An inner activation gate controls TMEM16F phospholipid scrambling
Authors: Le, Trieu and Jia, Zhiguang and Le, Son C and Zhang, Yang and Chen, Jianhan and Yang, Huanghe
Journal: Nature communications (2019): 1846

References

View all 50 references: Citation Explorer
Structure of human caspase-6 in complex with Z-VAD-FMK: New peptide binding mode observed for the non-canonical caspase conformation
Authors: Muller I, Lamers MB, Ritchie AJ, Dominguez C, Munoz-Sanjuan I, Kiselyov A.
Journal: Bioorg Med Chem Lett (2011): 5244
Intracochlear perfusion of leupeptin and z-VAD-FMK: influence of antiapoptotic agents on gunshot-induced hearing loss
Authors: Abaamrane L, Raffin F, Schmerber S, Sendowski I.
Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol (2011): 987
In vitro effect of different mediators of apoptosis on canine cranial and caudal cruciate ligament fibroblasts and its reversibility by pancaspase inhibitor zVAD.fmk
Authors: Forterre S, Zurbriggen A, Spreng D.
Journal: Vet Immunol Immunopathol (2011): 264
Caspase inhibitor ZVAD-fmk facilitates engraftment of donor hematopoietic stem cells in intra-bone marrow-bone marrow transplantation
Authors: Imai Y, Adachi Y, Shi M, Shima C, Yanai S, Okigaki M, Yamashima T, Kaneko K, Ikehara S.
Journal: Stem Cells Dev (2010): 461
Caspase-10-dependent cell death in Fas/CD95 signalling is not abrogated by caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk
Authors: Lafont E, Milhas D, Teissie J, Therville N, Andrieu-Abadie N, Levade T, Benoist H, Segui B.
Journal: PLoS One (2010): e13638
Page updated on October 11, 2024

Ordering information

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Unit size
Catalog Number20101
Quantity
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Spectral properties

Correction Factor (280 nm)

0.179

Extinction coefficient (cm -1 M -1)

750001

Excitation (nm)

554

Emission (nm)

578

Storage, safety and handling

H-phraseH303, H313, H333
Hazard symbolXN
Intended useResearch Use Only (RUO)
R-phraseR20, R21, R22
UNSPSC12352200

Platform

Flow cytometer

Excitation550 nm
Emission595 nm
Instrument specification(s)FL1 Channel

Fluorescence microscope

ExcitationTRITC channel
EmissionTRITC channel
Recommended plateBlack wall, clear bottom
Instrument specification(s)FITC channel for Nuclear Green™ DCS1 staining, DAPI channel for Hoechst staining

Fluorescence microplate reader

Excitation550 nm
Emission595 nm
Cutoff570 nm
Recommended plateBlack wall, clear bottom
Instrument specification(s)Bottom read mode

Components

Fluorometric detection of active caspases 3/7 using TF3-DEVD-FMK (Cat# 20101) in Jurkat cells. The cells were treated with 1 μM staurosporine for 4 hours (Red) while untreated cells were used as a control (Green). Control and treated cells were incubated with TF3-DEVD-FMK for 1 hour at 37 °C, and then washed once after stain.  Fluorescent intensity was measured with NovoCyte™ 3000 flow cytometer blue laser excitation/PE emission channel.
Fluorometric detection of active caspases 3/7 using TF3-DEVD-FMK (Cat# 20101) in Jurkat cells. The cells were treated with 1 μM staurosporine for 4 hours (Red) while untreated cells were used as a control (Green). Control and treated cells were incubated with TF3-DEVD-FMK for 1 hour at 37 °C, and then washed once after stain.  Fluorescent intensity was measured with NovoCyte™ 3000 flow cytometer blue laser excitation/PE emission channel.
Fluorometric detection of active caspases 3/7 using TF3-DEVD-FMK (Cat# 20101) in Jurkat cells. The cells were treated with 1 μM staurosporine for 4 hours (Red) while untreated cells were used as a control (Green). Control and treated cells were incubated with TF3-DEVD-FMK for 1 hour at 37 °C, and then washed once after stain.  Fluorescent intensity was measured with NovoCyte™ 3000 flow cytometer blue laser excitation/PE emission channel.
Detection of active caspases 3/7 using TF3-DEVD-FMK (Cat# 20101) in Jurkat cells. The treated cells (1 μM staurosporine, 4 hours) and untreated cells (control) were incubated with TF3-DEVD-FMK for 1 hour at 37 °C, and then washed after stain.  Fluorescent images before fixation and after fixation were measured with a fluorescence microscope using TRITC filter set.
TF3-DEVD-FMK fluorometric detection of active caspases 3/7 using Kit #20101 in Jurkat cells. The cells were treated with 1 μM staurosporine for 3 hours (Red) while untreated cells were used as a control (Blue). Cells were incubated with TF3-DEVD-FMK for 1 hour at 37°C. The Fluorescent intensity (300, 000 cells/ 100 μL/well) was measured at Ex/Em = 550/595 nm (Cutoff at 570 nm) with a FlexStation microplate reader using bottom read mode.