Raptinal: a powerful tool for rapid induction of apoptotic cell death.

Chemical inducers of apoptosis have been utilized for decades as tools to uncover steps of the apoptotic cascade and to treat various diseases, most notably cancer. While there are several useful compounds available, limitations in potency, universality, or speed of cell death of these pro-apoptotic agents have meant that no single compound is suitable for all (or most) purposes. Raptinal is a recently described small molecule that induces intrinsic pathway apoptosis rapidly and reliably, and consequently, has been utilized in cell culture and whole organisms for a wide range of biological studies. Its distinct mechanism of action complements the current arsenal of cytotoxic compounds, making it useful as a probe for the apoptosis pathway and other cellular processes. The rapid induction of cell death by Raptinal and its widespread commercial availability make it the pro-apoptotic agent of choice for many applications.