Patent ID: 6759207
Filing Date: 2004-07-06
Classification: C12Q,G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for detecting an enzyme involved in the apoptosis cascade in one or more cells, comprising(a) contacting said one or more cells with a reporter compound having the formula III: or the formula VII: or a biologically acceptable salt of said compound or a tautomer of said compound or a biologically acceptable salt of said tautomer, wherein:R1 is an N-terminal protecting group; each AA independently is a residue of an &agr;-amino acid or &bgr;-amino acid, or a methyl, acetoxymethyl or methoxy ester of a carboxyl-containing &agr;-amino acid or &bgr;-amino acid; each n independently is 0-5; and R2 and R3 independently are hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; R4 and R5 independently are hydrogen or alkyl;; and R6 is a blocking group which is not an amino acid; under conditions whereby said reporter compound is taken into said one or more cells, and (b) recording the fluorescence of said one or more cells, wherein a change in fluorescence within said one or more cells compared to control cells which have not been so contacted is an indication of the presence of the enzyme.