Apoptosis Detection Kits

Apoptosis: A Key Process in Programmed Cell Death, a form of programmed cell death (PCD), is a genetically controlled and orderla form of programmed cell death (PCD), is a genetically regulated process essential for cell growth, development, and renewal. Key events include phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) changes, caspase activation, and DNA fragmentation.

This orderly self-destruction occurs under physiological or pathological conditions, helping organisms adapt to their environment. Proper apoptosis is critical for maintaining cellular balance, while dysregulation can lead to diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.

Apoptosis detection is a critical tool for analyzing cell fate and disease mechanisms. Elabscience® offers comprehensive apoptosis detection kits covering multiple key apoptotic pathways, enabling precise identification of essential steps in the cell death process.

1. The cell membrane loses its symmetry
2. Activation of apoptosis-related proteins such as Bcl-2
3. Caspase Activation
4. Mitochondrial membrane potential collapses, cytometers C is released
5. Increase in sub-G1 cell population
6. Cell nuclear shrinkage
7. DNA fragmentation
8. Cell membrane budding to form apoptotic bodies

An important feature of the late stage of apoptosis is DNA fragmentation, and the exposed 3’-OH of the fragmented DNA can be catalyzed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) to bind to fluorochrome-labeled dUTP, which can be visualized by fluorescence microscopy or flow cytometry. This method is also known as One-step method (higher detection sensitivity, more intuitive results, and easier experimental results to be published in SCI articles).
If the exposed 3’-OH groups are labeled with biotin-labeled dUTP (Biotin-dUTP) under the catalysis of TdT, and then combined with HRP-labeled Streptavidin (Streptavidin-HRP), the result can be visualized by DAB color development under the catalysis of HRP, apoptotic cells can then be detected by an ordinary optical microscope.
Elabscience® developed the TUNEL series of apoptosis kits, including the One-step TUNEL In Situ Apoptosis Kit, One-step TUNEL Flow Cytometry Apoptosis Kit, and TUNEL In Situ Apoptosis Kit (HRP-DAB Method). These kits can be used for apoptosis detection in tissue samples (paraffin-embedded, frozen sections) and cell samples (cell smears, cell culture films, suspension cells, adherent cells). Our TUNEL assay kits have high sensitivity, quick and easy operation, and can better assist in apoptosis research related to cell function and the R&D of related drugs.

Elabscience® One-step TUNEL In Situ Apoptosis Kits are suitable for in situ apoptosis detection of tissue samples (paraffin-embedded, frozen sections) and cell samples (cell smears, slide films), and the detection results can be directly observed by fluorescence microscopy. Compared with the DAB colorimetric method, the experimental results of fluorescent TUNEL are fluorescent images, which are more intuitive and easier to publish in SCI articles.