FIGURE 4.

Palmitate accelerates caspase activation and overrides the protective effect of AOA. A, mock-treated (BSA) or palmitate-treated (BSA-conjugated palmitate; 4 mm) egg extracts were incubated in the presence or absence of Bcl-xL and analyzed for caspase-3 activity at the indicated time points. Caspase-3 activity was assessed using the caspase substrate Ac-DEVD-pNA, and cleavage was measured spectrophotometrically at 405 nm. B, ³⁵S-labeled caspase-2 was incubated in mock- or palmitate (Palm)-treated extracts, and samples were resolved by SDS-PAGE/PhosphorImager. C, egg extracts were incubated with combinations of palmitate (4 mm) and AOA (10 mm), and caspase-3 activity was assessed using the caspase substrate Ac-DEVD-pNA. RT, room temperature.