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How do you detect apoptosis?
Posted May 18, 2020

Answer

Apoptosis can be detected by monitoring one of the characteristics involved in the process.

  • Morphological changes: imaging with electron microscopy
  • DNA fragmentation: TUNEL assay, DNA ladder assay, the comet assay
  • Activation of caspase: caspase activity assays involving various caspase substrates and inhibitors
  • Release of cytochrome C: western blotting
  • Exposure of phosphatidylserine on cell surface: Annexin V Staining
  • Change of mitochondrial membrane potential: assays using fluorescent probes such as JC-1, Rhodamine 123, and JC-10TM

A wide variety of technologies can be used to detect apoptosis based on the aforementioned principles, including flow cytometry, ELISA, microscopy, fluorescence microplate reader et al.