How is ASC oligomerization detected?

ASC oligomerization is detected by Western Blotting. Inflammasome assembly results in the formation of a large intracellular protein scaffold driven by the oligomerization of the adaptor protein apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC). Following inflammasome activation, ASC polymerizes to form the ASC speck, a large singular structure that is essential for recruitment of caspase-1 and its inflammatory activity. Because of the relatively large size of these structures, ASC specks can be easily detected by microscopy.