Caspases play important roles in apoptosis and cell signaling. The activation of caspase-3 (CPP32/apopain) is important for the initiation of apoptosis. Caspase 3 is also identified as a drug-screening target. Caspase 3 has substrate selectivity for the peptide sequence Asp-Glu-Val-Asp (DEVD). This Amplite™ Caspase-3 Assay Kit uses Ac-DEVD-AMC as fluorogenic indicator for assaying caspase-3 activity. AMC-derived caspase substrates are widely used for fluorimetric detection of various caspase activities. Cleavage of AMC peptides by caspases generates strongly fluorescent AMC that is monitored fluorimetrically at 440-460 nm with excitation of 340-350 nm. This kit can be used to continuously measure the activities of caspase-3 in cell extracts and purified enzyme preparations using a fluorescence microplate reader or fluorometer.