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In Situ Detection of Apoptosis by the TUNEL Assay: An Overview of Techniques

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DNA Damage Detection In Situ, Ex Vivo, and In Vivo

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 682))

Abstract

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, plays an important role in normal development and homeostasis of adult tissues. Apoptosis has also been linked to many disease states, including cancer. One of the biochemical hallmarks of apoptosis is the generation of free 3′-hydroxyl termini on DNA via cleavage of chromatin into single and multiple oligonuleosome-length fragments. The TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay exploits this biochemical hallmark by labeling the exposed termini of DNA, thereby enabling visualization of nuclei containing fragmented DNA. This review outlines the general method for in situ TUNEL staining of cultured cells and tissue sections, and highlights recent improvements in the technique and limitations of the assay.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MacroGenics, Inc, South San Francisco, CA, USA

    Deryk T. Loo

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  1. Deryk T. Loo
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Correspondence to Deryk T. Loo .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Baylor College of Medicine, Depts. Neurosurgery and Molecular & Cell, University of Houston, Holcombe Blvd. 2002, Houston, 77030, Texas, USA

    Vladimir V. Didenko

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Loo, D.T. (2011). In Situ Detection of Apoptosis by the TUNEL Assay: An Overview of Techniques. In: Didenko, V. (eds) DNA Damage Detection In Situ, Ex Vivo, and In Vivo. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 682. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-409-8_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-409-8_1

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60327-408-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60327-409-8

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