Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3
pubmed:dateCreated
2001-2-22
pubmed:abstractText
In this article we describe a novel effect of formamide on DNA of apoptotic nuclei and present a method for specific detection of apoptotic cells based on this effect. Our observations show that formamide induces DNA denaturation in apoptotic nuclei but has no such effect on DNA of non-apoptotic cells. Formamide-induced DNA denaturation combined with detection of denatured DNA with a monoclonal antibody (MAb) against single-stranded DNA made it possible to specifically identify the apoptotic cells. This procedure produced intense staining of the condensed chromatin in the apoptotic nuclei. In contrast, necrotic cells from cultures treated with sodium azide, saponin, or hyperthermia did not bind this antibody, demonstrating the specificity of the formamide-MAb assay for the apoptotic cells. However, TUNEL stained 90-100% of necrotic cells in all three models of necrosis. Because the MAb did not stain cells with single- or double-stranded DNA breaks in the absence of apoptosis, we conclude that staining of the apoptotic nuclei is not influenced by DNA breaks and is induced by specific changes in condensed chromatin, such as damage to the DNA-histone interactions. Importantly, the formamide-MAb technique identified apoptotic cells in frozen sections and in histological sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Mar
pubmed:issn
0022-1554
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
49
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
369-78
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:11181740-Animals, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-Antibodies, Monoclonal, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-Apoptosis, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-Caspases, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-Chromatin, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-DNA, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-DNA, Single-Stranded, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-Enzyme Inhibitors, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-Female, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-Fixatives, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-Flow Cytometry, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-Formaldehyde, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-Formamides, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-Frozen Sections, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-Humans, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-In Situ Nick-End Labeling, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-Indicators and Reagents, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-Kinetics, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-Mice, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-Mice, Inbred BALB C, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-Microscopy, Fluorescence, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-Necrosis, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-Nucleic Acid Denaturation, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-Paraffin Embedding, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-Temperature, pubmed-meshheading:11181740-Tumor Cells, Cultured
pubmed:year
2001
pubmed:articleTitle
Identification of apoptotic cells by formamide-induced dna denaturation in condensed chromatin.
pubmed:affiliation
Experimental Therapeutics Division, Radiation Oncology Department, University of Miami Medical School, Miami, Florida, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.