AlphaLISA SureFire Ultra Human and Mouse Cleaved Caspase-3 (Asp175) Detection Kit, 500 Assay Points

Total-AlphaLISA SureFire Ultra two-plate assay protocol

The two-plate protocol involves culturing and treating the cells in a 96-well plate before lysis, then transferring lysates into a 384-well OptiPlate™ plate before the addition of Total-AlphaLISA SureFire Ultra detection reagents. This protocol permits the cells viability and confluence to be monitored. In addition, lysates from a single well can be used to measure multiple targets.

Total-AlphaLISA SureFire Ultra one-plate assay protocol

Detection of Total target protein with AlphaLISA SureFire Ultra reagents can be performed in a single plate used for culturing, treatment, and lysis. No washing steps are required. This HTS designed protocol allows for miniaturization while maintaining AlphaLISA SureFire Ultra quality.

Caspase 3 cleavage in cells treated with Staurosporine

HeLa cells were seeded in a 96-well plate (40,000 cells/well) in complete medium and incubated overnight at 37°C, 5% CO2. The cells were treated with increasing concentrations of Staurosporine for 4 hours.

After treatment, the cells were lysed with 100 µL of Lysis Buffer for 10 minutes at RT with shaking (350 rpm). Caspase 3 cleaved (D175) and Total levels were evaluated using respective AlphaLISA SureFire Ultra assays. For the detection step, 10 µL of cell lysate (approximately 4,000 cells) was transferred into a 384-well white OptiPlate, followed by 5 µL of Acceptor mix and incubated for 1 hour at RT. Finally, 5 µL of Donor mix was then added to each well and incubated for 1 hour at RT in the dark. The plate was read on an Envision using standard AlphaLISA settings.

Staurosporine triggered a dose-dependent activation of caspase 3, causing cleavage of the pro-caspase form (Total) into the active (cleaved) form.

Caspase 3 cleavage in cells treated with Staurosporine

RAW 264.7 cells were seeded in a 96-well plate (40,000 cells/well) in complete medium and incubated overnight at 37°C, 5% CO2. The cells were treated with increasing concentrations of Staurosporine for 4 hours.

After treatment, the cells were lysed with 100 µL of Lysis Buffer for 10 minutes at RT with shaking (350 rpm). Caspase 3 cleaved (D175) and Cofilin Total levels were evaluated using respective AlphaLISA SureFire Ultra assays. For the detection step, 10 µL of cell lysate (approximately 4,000 cells or 400 cells for Cofilin) was transferred into a 384-well white OptiPlate, followed by 5 µL of Acceptor mix and incubated for 1 hour at RT. Finally, 5 µL of Donor mix was then added to each well and incubated for 1 hour at RT in the dark. The plate was read on an Envision using standard AlphaLISA settings.

Staurosporine triggered a dose-dependent activation of Caspase 3, causing an increase of the active (cleaved) form, while Cofilin levels remained unchanged.

Etoposide induction of Caspase 3 cleavage

HeLa cells were seeded in a 96-well plate (40,000 cells/well) in complete medium and incubated overnight at 37°C, 5% CO2. The cells were treated with increasing concentrations of Etoposide for 24 hours.

After treatment, the cells were lysed with 100 µL of Lysis Buffer for 10 minutes at RT with shaking (350 rpm). Caspase 3 Cleaved (D175) and Cofilin Total levels were evaluated using respective AlphaLISA SureFire Ultra assays. For the detection step, 10 µL of cell lysate (approximately 4,000 cells or 200 for Cofilin) was transferred into a 384-well white OptiPlate, followed by 5 µL of Acceptor mix and incubated for 1 hour at RT. Finally, 5 µL of Donor mix was then added to each well and incubated for 1 hour at RT in the dark. The plate was read on an Envision using standard AlphaLISA settings.

Etoposide triggered a dose-dependent activation of caspase 3, causing an increase of the active (cleaved) form over a period of 24 hours, while Cofilin levels remained unchanged.

Z-VAD-FMK inhibition of Caspase 3 cleavage

HeLa cells were seeded in a 96-well plate (40,000 cells/well) in complete medium and incubated overnight at 37°C, 5% CO2. The cells were pretreated with 100 µM Z-VAD-FMK (Pan-caspase inhibitor) for 1 hour, then cells were left untreated or treated with 10 µM Staurosporine in media containing Z-VAD-FMK.

After treatment, the cells were lysed with 100 µL of Lysis Buffer for 10 minutes at RT with shaking (350 rpm). Cleaved Caspase 3 levels were evaluated using the AlphaLISA SureFire Ultra assay. For the detection step, 10 µL of cell lysate (approximately 4,000 cells) was transferred into a 384-well white OptiPlate, followed by 5 µL of Acceptor mix and incubated for 1 hour at RT. Finally, 5 µL of Donor mix was then added to each well and incubated for 1 hour at RT in the dark. The plate was read on an Envision using standard AlphaLISA settings.

Cells pretreated with Z-VAD-FMK showed reduced levels of cleaved Caspase 3 compared to those treated only with Staurosporine.