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Apoptosis without decrease of cell DNA content
Author(s) -
Fournel Sylvie,
Genestier Laurent,
Rouault Jean-Pierre,
Lizard Gerard,
Flacher Monique,
Assossou Olga,
Revillard Jean-Pierre
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(95)00532-e
Subject(s) - apoptosis , microbiology and biotechnology , agarose gel electrophoresis , dna fragmentation , dna , flow cytometry , biology , chemistry , programmed cell death , biochemistry
Apoptosis of human B cells and murine T and B cells was analyzed by DNA agarose gel electrophoresis, clamped homogeneous electric field, measurement of cell DNA content by flow cytometry, transmission electron microscopy and by UV microscopy. Apoptosis was induced by etoposide (an inhibitor of topoisomerase II), by the calcium ionophore ionomycin or by cross‐linking of membrane immunoglobulins (Ig) with anti‐Ig‐antibodies. Two types of apoptosis could be defined. Apoptosis resulting in small DNA fragments (180–200 base pairs and multiples thereof) was associated with a typical ‘ladder’ in agarose gel electrophoresis and a decrease in cell DNA content assessed by flow cytometry. Conversely apoptosis with large DNA fragments (100–150 kilobase pairs) was only demonstrated by clamped homogeneous electric field but was not associated with decreased cell DNA content or the observation of DNA ladders. Nuclear condensation without fragmentation was more frequent when apoptosis generated large DNA fragments. The type of apoptosis appears to be an intrinsic property of each cell type.