The poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) is an important enzyme involved in DNA repair, transcription and modulation of chromatin structure. PARP can be activated in cells experiencing stress and/or DNA damage. Since the PARP is cleaved in the fragments of 89 and 24 kDa during apoptosis, hence the cleaved PARP is considered as a useful hallmark of apoptosis.

The PARP cleavage has been carried out by DEVD-ase caspases, a family of proteases activated during apoptosis. Caspase-3, a member of the caspase family of 13 aspartate-specific cysteine proteases that play a central role in the execution of the apoptotic program, is primarily responsible for the cleavage of PARP during cell death. The sequence at which caspase 3 cleaves PARP (DEVD) is very well conserved in the PARP protein from very distant species, indicating the potential importance of PARP cleavage in apoptosis. Indeed, the PARP activation and subsequent cleavage have active and complex roles in apoptosis. Good luck