Apoptosis is a type of cellular death but also directly regulates tumorigen
esis through different gene expression. This phenomenon is often used as en
d-point in studies of radio- and chemosensitivity of cancer cells. Restrict
ion DNA fragments have been separated quickly, efficiently and successfully
by capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE). In this study CGE has been applied
to distinguish between the discrete pattern of degraded DNA produced by ap
optosis and randomized DNA breaks produced by ionizing radiation. The influ
ence of different variables has been discussed and an example of fast separ
ation by CGE of the apoptotic fragments produced by UV light treatment is s
hown. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.