Nuclear Molecules Antibodies

DNA Fragmentation Antibodies

DNA Fragmentation Antibodies
Apo-BrdU™ TUNEL Assay Kits
BrdU Antibodies as Apoptosis Cell Cycle Detection Tools
Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)
Apoptosis Morphological Identification with DAPI Nuclear Stain

The latter stages of apoptosis observe nuclear changes such as DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation, inhibition of DNA repair enzymes and the breakdown of structural nuclear proteins. Activated caspases are involved upstream in many of these processes often acting on substrates that ultimately lead to DNA damage and fragmentation.

View our range of apoptosis antibodies available in different formats and suitable for many applications.

Apo-BrdU™ TUNEL Assay Kits DNA Fragmentation Antibodies

Caspases are indirectly involed in DNA fragmentation by activating cellular nucleases: CAD (caspase activated DNase) also called DFF40 (DNA fragmentation factor) exists in an inactive form by complexing with ICAD (inhibitor of CAD). During apoptosis caspase 3 cleaves ICAD, releasing and activating CAD which causes DNA degradation and chromatin condensation.

View our range of quality DNA Fragmentation Antibodies.

Chromosomal DNA is first broken into large fragments (50 - 300 kilobases) before they are cleaved into smaller nucleosomal fragments (approximately 200 base pairs).

Extraction of the DNA fragments from apoptosis cells followed by agarose gel electrophoresis results in a distinctive DNA ladder appearance.

DNA fragmentation is a characteristic feature of apoptosis and can be easily detected with our two color (red and green) Terminal deoxynucleotide transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) Apo-BrdU™ kits.

Apo-BrdU™ TUNEL Assay Kits

AbD Serotec’s Apo-BrdU™ TUNEL assay is based on the addition of labeled nucleotides to the free 3’-hydroxyl termini of double or single stranded DNA fragments. This method makes it easy to identify apoptotic cells as the DNA of healthy cells remains intact.

The TUNEL assay labels DNA fragments with bromolated deoxyuridine triphosphate nucleotides (Br-dUTP) through a reaction catalysed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT). Incorporation of Br-dUTP into the DNA of apoptotic cells is detected with a labeled BrdU monoclonal antibody;

  • Apo-BrdU™ TUNEL assay (APO001) has a fluorescein labeled BrdU monoclonal antibody suitable for flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy measurements. Our Apo-BrdU™ assay can also be used in conjunction with cell surface staining, which should be performed first.
  • Apo-BrdU™-IHC TUNEL assay (APO002) contains a biotinylated BrdU monoclonal antibody with an HRP – avidin detection system ideal for immunohistochemistry detection.

BrdU BrdU Antibodies as Apoptosis Cell Cycle Detection Tools

Bromodeoxyuridine (5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine, BrdU) is an analog of the DNA base thymidine. During DNA synthesis, BrdU can replace thymidine and be incorporated into the newly synthesized DNA of dividing cells. Our BrdU antibodies provide a powerful tool to detect the cell cycle position of apoptotic cells.

AbD Serotec offers two popular BrdU Antibody Clones; BU1/75 (ICR1), and Bu20a, with broad mammalian species specificity – in formats suitable for ELI SA, flow cytometry and IHC.

We are the originators and worldwide suppliers of clone BU1/75 (ICR1) providing you with competitively priced BrdU antibodies at excellent value!

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)

Inhibition of DNA repair enzymes by caspases leads to DNA fragmentation. One important DNA repair enzyme is Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) which binds to DNA strand breaks. PARP is involved in the base excision repair pathway by catalysing the synthesis of poly (ADP-ribose) and modifying nuclear proteins. Caspase 3 cleavage of PARP inhibits its ability to repair DNA damage.

Our PARP Antibodies are suitable for many applications including immunofluorescence microscopy, immunohistochemistry of both frozen and paraffin embedded tissue sections and western blotting. These products are from our selection of performance guaranteed DNA Damage and Repair Antibodies.

PARP Apoptosis Morphological Identification with DAPI Nuclear Stain

DAPI is a dye that can be used as a tool to visualise nuclear changes and assess apoptosis. DAPI binds strongly and selectively to the minor groove of adenine-thymine regions of DNA. When bound to double-stranded DNA, DAPI absorbs light at 340nm (ultraviolet light) and emits at 488nm (fluoresces blue). Bound DAPI has a fluorescence intensity approximately 20 fold higher than that of unbound DAPI. The fluorescence is also directly proportional to the amount of DNA present.

As the apoptotic cell membrane is compromised, more DAPI enters the cell and stains a stronger blue colour. The differing nuclear morphology of apoptotic cells such as chromosome condensation and fragmentation also helps with visual identification of apoptotic cells stained with DAPI.

DAPI is cell-permeable and is commonly used to detect DNA in immunofluorescence, histochemical and in situ hybridisation procedures.

View the other sections in our quality apoptosis product range:

Further Reading
DNA Fragmentation
  1. Enari, M. et al. (1998) A caspase-activated DNase that degrades DNA during apoptosis, and its inhibitor ICAD.
    Nature 391: 43-50    .
  2. Inohara, N. et al. (1999) Identification of regulatory and catalytic domains in the apoptosis nuclease DFF40/CAD.
    J. Biol. Chem. 1: 270-4    .
  3. Liu, X. et al. (1997) DFF, a heterodimeric protein that functions downstream of caspase-3 to trigger DNA fragmentation during apoptosis
    Cell 89: 175-184    .
  4. Sakahira, H. et al. (1998) Cleavage of CAD inhibitor in CAD activation and DNA degradation during apoptosis.
    Nature 391: 96-99    .
  5. Wyllie, A. (1998) Apoptosis: An endonuclease at last.
    Nature 391: 20-21    .
BrdU antibodies

BrdU antibodies reference webpage

PARP antibodies
  1. Freire, R. et al. (2001) Cleavage of the Bloom’s syndrome gene product during apoptosis by caspase-3 results in an impaired interaction with topoisomerase III alpha.
    Nucleic Acids Res. 29: 3172-3180.
  2. Harris, J.L. et al. (2009) Aprataxin, poly-ADP ribose polymerase 1 (PARP-1) and apurinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) function together to protect the genome against oxidative damage.
    Hum Mol Genet. 18: 4102-17    .
  3. Krohn, A. et al. (1998) Staurosporine-induced apoptosis of cultured rat hippocampal neurons involves caspase-1-like proteases as upstream initiators and increased production of superoxide as a main downstream effector.
    J. Neurosci. 18: 8186-8197    .

Apo-BrdU™ is a registered trademark of Phoenix Flow Systems.