Fig. 8

Analysis of expression of a protein with caspase-like substrate specificity in prodigiosin treated bacterial cells. Detection of protease activity in bacterial cells using the EnzChek Caspase-3 Assay Kit #2 with Z-DEVD–R110 substrate. Cells were either treated with prodigiosin for 4 h at 37 °C to induce apoptosis (induced) or left untreated (control). Both induced and control cells were then harvested, lysed and assayed as described in the kit protocol. Reactions were carried out at room temperature and fluorescence was measured in a fluorescence microplate reader using excitation at 485 ± 10 nm and emission detection at 530 ± 12.5 nm after the indicated amount of time