Caspase 9 activation and uses therefor

A method for identifying a compound that modulates Caspase 9 activity, comprising:

• a) contacting a sample containing Caspase 9 with a test compound;
• b) adding a purified kosmotropic agent to the sample containing Caspase 9 such that the sample comprises one or more kosmotropic agents and the final concentration of the kosmotropic agent or agents exceeds 0.3M, and
• c) detecting the activity of Caspase 9, wherein a change in activity indicates a compound which modulates Caspase 9 activity.