The present invention relates to novel fluorescent dyes, novel fluorogenic
and fluorescent reporter molecules and new enzyme assay processes that
can be used to detect the activity of caspases and other enzymes involved
in apoptosis in whole cells, cell lines and tissue samples derived from
any living organism or organ. The reporter molecules and assay processes
can be used in drug screening procedures to identify compounds which act
as inhibitors or inducers of the caspase cascade in whole cells or
tissues. The reagents and assays described herein are also useful for
determining the chemosensitivity of human cancer cells to treatment with
chemotherapeutic drugs. The present invention also relates to novel
fluorogenic and fluorescent reporter molecules and new enzyme assay
processes that can be used to detect the activity of type 2 methionine
aminopeptidase, dipeptidyl peptidase IV, calpain, aminopeptidase, HIV
protease, adenovirus protease, HSV-1 protease, HCMV protease and HCV
protease.