Pharmaceutical-induced cell apoptosis characterized by capillary zone electrophoresis

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with a non-gel-sieving system was empl oyed to characterize actinomycin D-induced cell apoptosis by measuring cell ular DNA damage, termed DNA ladder, which proved to be thoroughly different from the DNA damage pattern of cell necrosis. The results by CZE analyses were identical to those obtained by conventional slab gel electrophoresis, demonstrating that CZE would be a reliable and more convenient technique fo r the identification of cell death with advantages of higher performance, h igh-speed, minute sample requirement, and advanced automation. (C) 2001 Aca demic Press.