Chemiluminescent probe for the in vitro detection of protease activity.

A strategy involving the use of a self-immolative linker has been investigated for the chemiluminescent sensing of proteases. The reactive linker enabled the release of a 1,2-dioxetane light precursor. As a proof of principle, caspase-3, a key peptidase involved in apoptosis has been targeted. An in vitro assay has been carried out and proved the decomposition of the linker and the selectivity for caspase-3.