Apoptosis Protease Activating Factor 1 Antibody Staining Protocol for Immunohistochemistry

Description: Apoptosis is one of a number of phenotypic responses that may occur as a result of signal transduction pathways occurring in the cell. One identified mechanism for initiating caspase activation requires the participation of mitochondria and involves apoptosis protease activating factor-1 (Apaf-1). Apaf-1 is a cytosolic protein that rests in a latent state until bound by cytochrome c (Apaf-2). Cytochrome c is commonly released from the mitochondria during apoptosis induced by many but probably not all cell death stimuli. The resulting Apaf1/cytochrome c complex associates with the zyymogen form of caspase-9 (Apaf-3) in the presence of dATP or ATP, promoting the autocatalytic activation of caspase-9. Once activated caspase-9 can then cleave and activate procaspase-3 directly, resulting in a cascade of additional caspase activation and apoptosis.