PathScan^® Apoptosis and Proliferation Multiplex IF Kit #7851

Apoptosis is a regulated physiological process leading to cell death. Initiator caspases cleave and activate downstream effector caspases that in turn cleave cytoskeletal and nuclear proteins like PARP, α-fodrin, DFF, and lamin A, which induce apoptosis (1). Cleavage of the nuclear poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase PARP occurs between Asp214 and Gly215, which separates the PARP amino-terminal DNA binding domain (24 kDa) from the carboxy-terminal catalytic domain (89 kDa) (2,3). PARP helps to maintain cell viability by playing key roles in many cellular processes, including DNA replication, repair, and recombination. Cleavage of PARP facilitates cellular disassembly and serves as a marker of cells undergoing apoptosis (4). Cell proliferation can be measured by studying the phosphorylation state of histone H3 and microtubule assembly during mitosis. Histone H3 is one of four distinct core histone proteins found in the nucleosome. Phosphorylation of histone H3 at Ser10, Ser28, and Thr11 is tightly correlated with chromosome condensation during both mitosis and meiosis (5-7). Heterodimers composed of α-tubulin and β-tubulin form globular tubulin subunits common to all eukaryotic cells. Tubulin polymers known as microtubules are fundamental cytosolic fibers important in mediating cellular movement, including meiotic/mitotic chromosome alignment, cytoplasmic membrane vesicle transport, and nerve-cell axon migration (8).