Detection of pro‐caspase‐3 in cytosol and mitochondria of various tissues

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Abstract
Caspases are a family of cysteine proteases of critical importance in the apoptotic cell death process. They are normally present as zymogens (pro‐caspases) in the cytoplasm of vertebrate and other organisms. In this study we have shown that pro‐caspase‐3 is localized to cytosol and mitochondria of various rat tissues (brain, heart, kidney, liver, spleen and thymus). Although the majority of pro‐caspase‐3 was localized in the cytosol, the amount of mitochondrial pro‐caspase‐3 was significant. The ratio of cytosolic and mitochondrial pools of pro‐caspase‐3 appeared to vary between different tissues. The higher amount of mitochondrial pro‐caspase‐3 was found in thymus and spleen, i.e. tissues in which spontaneous apoptosis plays an important role. Our findings provide further support for mitochondrial localization of pro‐caspase‐3 and the critical role of this organelle in apoptosis.