subject: GAT antibodies aid apoptosis research [print this page] The caspase enzymes are critical to apoptosis, or programmed cell death, disruption of which is a contributory factor in a number of cancers. For programmed cell death to be initiated, the caspases first have to be activated. We at Novus Biologicals have a broad antibody database dedicated to the caspases and other apoptosis proteins, which was recently expanded when we became the sole distributor for SDIX's range of Genome Antibody Technology (GAT) reagents.
There are three families of caspase enzymes: initiator, effector and cytokine processor caspases. Until apoptosis is activated, they exist in the cell as inactive pro-caspases. The initiator caspases, comprising caspase-2, 8, 9 and10, begin the cascade by activating the effector caspases 3, 6 and 7 by cleavage. These then activate other proteins by a combination of cleavage and degradation, to trigger apoptosis. The cytokine processors (caspase-1, 4, 5 and 11 to 14) have a specialised role in that their activation leads to the fabrication of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Caspase activation occurs by 2 distinct routes: via the cell surface, or via mitochondrial cell signalling. A number of pathways trigger the initiator caspases into action, depending on the stimulus. They include Fas Ligand (FasL); Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF); Growth Factor Receptor-Bound Protein (GRB); Granzyme-B; Calcium channel activation, DNA damage and stress to the endoplasmic reticulum. As you can see, the caspase cascade and apoptosis mechanism is extremely complex, and changes or disruptions at any stage can lead to cancer. Resistance to programmed cell death is a common cause of malignancies.
Recently, we announced exciting new changes to our antibody catalogue, when we became the sole distributors of the SDIX Genome Antibody Technology range, a revolutionary new method which allows highly targeted immunoglobulins to be raised to traditionally difficult antigens. SDIX reagents specific to the caspase cascade include caspase 3, 7, 8 and 9, FAS and TNF antibodies. However, there are many more apoptosis reagents besides these.
