TUNEL in Osteosarcoma cells

From: Derek Davies (daviesd2@icrf.icnet.uk)
Date: Fri Dec 12 1997 - 06:40:33 EST


Hello All,

I have a user who is looking at the cell line U205, which is an
osteosarcoma line. Part of her study is to look for apoptosis after UV
treatment. By morphology the cells look like they are apoptotic but she
wants also to demonstrate this by flow.

Initially we looked for a sub-G1 peak but without success. OK, this may be
a true result if the DNA is not breaking up into very small fragments. So,
I went on to look for strand breaks by TUNEL. My problem is that although
the treated and untreated cells do show differences, they are quite small.
If I run a thymocyte control in parallel I get a good log and a half shift
in the dUTP fluorescence. In contrast in the U205 cells, I only really
see positive cells if I run on linear and even then it is maybe a two-fold
increase.

I have tried upping the concentrations of dUTPs, enzyme and Av-FITC
without success (I don't use a kit BTW). Has anybody any tips, or has
anyone any experience with these cells?

Still, at least, its nearly Christmas, eh?

Derek

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*  Derek Davies                       Voice: (44) 0171 269 3394            *
*  FACS Laboratory,                   FAX: (44) 0171 269 3100              *
*  Imperial Cancer Research Fund,     e_mail: derek.davies@icrf.icnet.uk   *
*  London, UK                                                              *
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