Z-VAD-FMK

Description: Z-VAD-FMK (Z-VAD(OMe)-FMK; Z-Val-Ala-Asp(OMe)-FMK), a peptide compound, is a novel, potent cell-permeable and irreversible (covalent) inhibitor of pan-caspase. It is also an ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) inhibitor. Z-VAD(OMe)-FMK irreversibly modifies UCHL1 by targeting the active site of UCHL1. Z-VAD-FMK inhibits apoptosis by blocking the activation of proCPP32 into its active form, rather than by preventing the proteolytic action of CPP32 directly. Z- VAD-FMK inhibits the formation of large kilobasepair fragments of DNA induced by diverse stimuli. Z-VAD-FMK had little or no effect on STS-induced necrotic cell death suggesting that the ICE-like protease activity was not involved in necrosis.

References: Biochem J. 1996 Apr 1; 315 ( Pt 1):21-4; Leukemia. 1997 Aug; 11(8):1238-44.