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Technical Resources
Technical Information
Calbiochem Information
Apoptosis Resource
Beginning of the End
Induction of Apoptosis
Changes at the Plasma Membrane
Changes in the Mitochondria
Changes in the Cytoplasm
Changes in the Nucleus
Measurement of Cell Proliferation
Appendix
Apoptosis Resource: Changes in the Plasma Membrane
 
Induction of Apoptosis
Measurement of Apoptosis-Induced Changes at the Plasma Membrane
Measurement of Apoptosis-Induced Changes in the Mitochondria
Measurement of Apoptosis-Induced Changes in the Cytoplasm
Measurement of Apoptosis-Induced Changes in the Nucleus
Measurement of Cell Proliferation
Appendix
 Technical Tips
Measurement of Apoptosis-Induced Changes at the Plasma Membrane
In normal viable cells, phosphatidyl serine (PS) is located on the cytoplasmic side of the cell membrane. Upon induction of apoptosis, rapid alterations in the organization of phospholipids occur, leading to translocation of PS to the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane. PS translocation to the cell surface is one of the earliest events in apoptosis and precedes nuclear breakdown, DNA fragmentation, and membrane blebbing. Recognition of PS by phagocytes in vivo results in the removal of apoptotic cells, thus apoptosis is not associated with the local inflammatory response which generally accompanies necrosis. Annexin V binding to PS can be used as a marker of early-stage apoptosis. In vitro detection of externalized PS can be achieved through interaction with Annexin V, a Ca2+-dependent protein. In the presence of calcium, rapid high-affinity binding of Annexin V to PS occurs. Annexin V is typically conjugated to a fluorochrome for easy indentification of apoptotic cells by flow cytometry or immunofluorescence microscopy.

 
Measurement of Changes at the Plasma Membrane: Annexin V Kits
 
Annexin V-FITC Apoptosis Detection Kit Cat. No. PF032
Viable cells do not bind Annexin V-FITC or Propidium Iodide (PI) as reflected in the lower left-hand quadrant of the dot plot. Early apoptotic cells with exposed PS but intact cell membranes bind Annexin VFITC, but exclude PI. Fluorescence from this population is reported in the lower right-hand quadrant. Necrotic or apoptotic cells in terminal stages will be both Annexin V-FITC and PI positive and are reported in the upper right-hand quadrant. Note that a small percentage of normal cell death should be expected in routine cultures of untreated cells.
 
 
Measurement of Changes at the Plasma Membrane: Fas and Fas-ligand Kits
 
 
Measurement of Plasma Membrane Integrity Using Vital Dyes
Under normal conditions vital dyes are not capable of crossing the plasma membrane of intact non-apoptotic cells. When the membrane properties are compromised, during apoptosis or necrosis, these dyes cross the cell membrane and bind cellular components. This principle can be used as a simple way of assessing the integrity of the plasma membrane.
 
Useful Tools for Measuring Changes at the Plasma Membrane