Capillary electrophoresis of DNA damage after irradiation: apoptosis and necrosis

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.