Methods for detecting calpain activation and identifying calpain inhibitors

摘要

The invention provides methods for detecting calpain activation by measuring levels of calpain-generated spectrin BDPs using antibodies that specifically bind to these spectrin BDPs, but not intact spectrin, or spectrin BDPs generated by other proteases. Also included in the invention are kits for diagnosing diseases associated with increased levels of calpain activation, and methods for screening for effective therapeutics for these diseases.