Caspase activity can be monitored by means of several different methods:

  • Assay technologies are available with luminescent readout through the release of Luciferin, which acts as the substrate for the subsequent light generating Luciferase reaction.
  • Other setups release fluorescent dyes, e.g. Fluorescein or Coumarin derivatives, upon cleavage or coloured substances detectable with absorbance measurements.
  • Finally, there are substrates labelled with lanthanide chelates and quenchers that are cleaved off by the Caspases so that they can be detected by time-resolved fluorescence emission.

Suitable instruments for caspase assays