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Key morphological features of apoptosis may occur in the absence of internucleosomal DNA fragmentation

Year: 1992

Type: article

Abstract: Apoptosis, a major form of cell death, is characterized by chromatin condensation, a reduction in cell volume and endonuclease cleavage of DNA into oligonucleosomal length fragments. The detection of these fragments by gel electrophoresis, as a DNA ladder, is currently used as the major biochemical index of apoptosis. Here we report that key morphological changes of apoptosis can be dissociated experimentally from the DNA fragmentation produced by endonuclease activity. Internucleosomal cleavage of DNA is thus likely to be a later event in the apoptotic process.

Source: Biochemical Journal

DOI: 10.1042/bj2860331

Authors: G M Cohen, X M Sun, R T Snowden, D Dinsdale, D N Skilleter

Institution: MRC Toxicology Unit

Language: English

Topic: Cell death mechanisms and regulation

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

OpenAlex ID: W1915857360

FWCI: 13.97

Cites: 21

Cited by: 668

Related to: 10