ANALYSIS OF INTERNUCLEOSOMAL DNA FRAGMENTATION IN APOPTOTIC THYMOCYTES BY DYNAMIC SIEVING CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS

The analysis, by slab gel electrophoresis, of internucleosomal DNA cle avage or laddering, characteristic of apoptosis in many cell systems, is labour intensive, difficult to automate and at best only semi-quant itative. In this report we show that CE, using dilute solutions of hyd roxyethylcellulose as a replaceable sieving matrix, can be applied to the relatively rapid analysis of DNA laddering in whole digests of apo ptotic rat thymocytes. Also, using the sensitivity of laser-induced fl uorescence detection and the highly sensitive nucleic acid stain YO-PR O-1, the CE method reported here can use 1000-2000 fold fewer cells th an needed for traditional slab gel methods.