Profile: Apex Bio Technology specializes in offering peptides & bio-analytic reagents. We carry a broad product line in research areas such as apoptosis, epigenetics and cancer biology. We also provide custom services including peptide synthesis, antibody production, and assay development. Apoptosis, also known as programed cell death, is a tightly controlled cellular process which is characterized by membrane blebbing, cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and DNA fragmentation. The process of apoptosis is initiated by a variety of signals, both intracellularly & extracellularly. Two major mechanisms have been identified to regulate this event. Mitochondria regulated apoptosis is initiated by the release of apoptosis effectors released by damaged mitochondria, while direct signal transduced apoptosis is triggered by the activation of extrinsic signals that activate TNF receptors. A family of cysteine proteases, called caspases, plays an important role in this process. There are two types of caspases, initiator caspases, and effector caspases. Initiator caspases are activated by binding to specific adaptor protein. Once activated, they will then activate downstream effector caspases which execute the cell death program. Together, they form the caspase cascade. Apoptosis is an important phenomenon in development, aging, and immune reactions. Defective apoptosis has been related to many diseases such as cancer, neuro degenerative diseases, and auto immune disorders.