Caspase-9 Antibody

Caspase-9, also called APAF3, is an initiator caspase, encoded by the CASP9 gene. The gene is mapped to chromosome 1p36.3-p36.1 by FISH. CASP9 is identified as a member of the caspase family that participates in CASP3 activation in vitro. And it also regarded as the most upstream member of the apoptotic protease cascade that is triggered by Cytochrome C and dATP. The crystal structure of CASP9 is complex with the BIR3 in an inhibitory domain of XIAP at 2.4-angstrom resolution and the gene contains 9 exons and spans approximately 35 kb of genomic DNA. Caspase-9 and APAF1 bind to each other via their respective NH2-terminal CED-3 homologous domains in the presence of Cytochrome C and dATP, an event that leads to CASP9 activation. Activity increases dramatically upon association with the apoptosome complex. And the majority of CASP9 knockout mice died perinatally with a markedly enlarged and malformed cerebrum caused by reduced apoptosis during brain development.