Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a sophisticated process that involves an intricate series of biochemical events. Specific cell death signals are transduced by different biomolecules such as caspases initiating an apoptotic cascade and finally causing multiple events such as degradation of cellular proteins and chromosomal DNA, mitochondrial disruption or changes in the plasma membrane integrity.

Since no single parameter fully defines cell death, it is recommended to use different methods to detect apoptotic cells or to differentiate between necrosis and apoptosis. Thus, PromoKine provides a selected line of tools for detecting and studying the manifold apoptotic events occurring in different areas of the cell, e.g. the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, mitochondria, and nucleus. A wide range of kits and reagents for detection and quantitation of Caspases, Kinases, Cathepsin and Calpain activity, changes in the glutathione level as well as Annexin V binding and DNA Fragmentation (e.g. TUNEL assays) are available for apoptosis research. Moreover, apoptosis inducers and a system for apoptotic cell isolation are also provided.