Death Staurosporine

Induction of Apoptosis by Treatment with Staurosporine

Staurosporine ( Streptomyces staurospores) is a relatively non-selective protein kinase inhibitor, which blocks many kinases to different degrees. Staurosporine is often used as a general method for inducing apoptosis 1.

Protocol for Staurosporine-induced apoptosis:

1. Add 1 µM (final concentration) staurosporine (eg, Sigma S6942) to cell suspension (e.g., 5 x 10 5 cells/ml in tissue culture medium).
2. Perform a time course to obtain optimum results; a 1-6 hr incubation at 37°C is suggested. *Note: some cells or cell lines may take up to 12 hours or more to induce apoptosis.
3. Proceed with assays designed to evaluate induction of apoptosis.

Kabir J, Lobo M, Zachary I. 2002 Staurosporine induces endothelial cell apoptosis via focal adhesion kinase dephosphorylation and focal adhesion disassembly independent of focal adhesion kinase proteolysis. J. Biochem. 367: 145-155.