FLICA™ Caspase Assay Kits
in vitro apoptosis and caspase detection kits
The class of cysteine proteases known as caspases are “executioner proteins” responsible for the process of programmed cell death, apoptosis, and have various roles in other intracellular processes.
FLICA™ assay kits, or “Fluorescent-Labeled Inhibitor of CAspases,” have been developed by ICT for apoptosis and caspase detection in cultured, whole living cells. FLICA may be used to quantify cell death, identify caspase activity, distinguish apoptosis from necrosis, and measure cytotoxicity.
Detect pan-caspase activity using the FLICA Poly Caspases Kits.
Probe for individual active caspases using specialized FLICA Kits:
- FLICA Caspase 1 Detection Kit
- FLICA Caspase 2 Detection Kit
- FLICA Caspases 3&7 Detection Kits
- FLICA Caspase 6 Detection Kit
- FLICA Caspase 8 Detection Kit
- FLICA Caspase 9 Detection Kits
- FLICA Caspase 10 Detection Kit
- FLICA Caspase 13 Detection Kit
The FLICA assays employ a caspase inhibitor probe linked to a green or red fluorescent label for detection. FLICA kits are fairly simple to use and experiments can be completed in one day. These assays are NOT ELISAs and do not involve the use of antibodies.
Sample protocol:
- Culture your cells up to 1 x 10^6 cells/mL.
- Induce caspase activity following your protocol, and create positive and negative controls.
- Reconstitute the reagent to form the stock concentrate.
- Dilute the stock concentrate to form the working solution.
- Add ~10mcL of the working solution directly to a 300-500mcL aliquot of your cell culture for labeling.
- Incubate 1-4 hours.
- Wash and spin cells twice, or let incubate for 1 hour with fresh media or 1x apoptosis wash buffer.
- If desired, label cells with Hoechst stain, Propidium Iodide, 7AAD or other cellular stain.
- If desired, fix cells.
- Analyze data using a fluorescence microscope, plate reader, or flow cytometer.