Bioluminescence determination of active caspase-3 in single apoptotic cells

Caspase-3 is an executive caspase, in the central position within apoptotic machinery. Apoptosis as a way of programmed cell death is a physiological process that plays an essential role in the development and homeostasis maintenance; moreover, its deregulations are linked to tumor progression or various autoimmune disorders. Therefore, an investigation of apoptosis pathways on the level of individual cells is not only of biological but also medical importance. In this work we report on the development of a high-sensitivity instrumentation and protocol for detection of active caspase-3 in individual mammalian apoptotic cells. The technology is based on the specific cleavage of modified luciferin by caspase-3, an immediate bioluminescence reaction of free luciferin with luciferase followed by emissions of photons and their detection by photomultiplier tube working in the photon counting regime. Three different instrumental arrangements are compared for the determination of caspase-3 in free cells or tissue samples. Thus, in our best miniaturized system the mean amount as low as about 6.5 fg corresponding to 122000 molecules of caspase-3 can be detected in individual apoptotic mouse leg cells.