Comprehensive suite of apoptosis assays specifically for use with PCA systems brings the power of apoptosis studies to the laboratory benchtop
Available from Guava Technologies are three highly sensitive apoptosis assays for identifying early, mid and late stage apoptotic cell populations.
Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a highly regulated pathway that is important in normal developmental processes as well as many diseases.
Cells undergoing apoptosis are identifiable by a number of characteristics, including transport of phosphatidylserine to the membrane surface, activation of caspase proteases, and DNA fragmentation in the nucleus.
The three assays that comprise the Guava Apoptosis suite enable researchers to examine three separate biological aspects of cell death to assess whether each cell is in the early- mid- or late-stages of apoptosis.
The suite includes assays for membrane changes (annexin V), activation of caspase enzymes, and DNA fragmentation (Tunel).
Each assay uses proprietary Guava software and optimised reagent kits.
Engineered for use on the Guava PCA, PCA-96 and EasyCyte systems and requiring only microvolume cell samples, all three assays provide superior discrimination between apoptotic and non-apoptotic cells, says Guava.
When used together, the three assays provide detailed profiles of cell populations in various stages of apoptosis.
Historically, apoptosis assays have suffered from being only loosely quantitative, as well as being subject to multiple wash steps where dying cells can be lost.
By comparison, Guava says its turnkey approach generates reliable and reproducible quantitation of apoptotic cells, is simple to use, and has been shown to produce significant savings in both cost and productivity enabling scientists to complete projects more quickly.
Different cell types die at different rates with slightly varied death programmes or apoptotic response.
A suite of assays is therefore critical for fully characterising the mechanisms of biological responses.
By designing a comprehensive suite of apoptosis assays specifically for use with its PCA systems, Guava says it has brought the power of apoptosis studies to the laboratory benchtop.
