B.3.1 Background information The critical steps in the methodology are cell fixation, permeabilization and the concentrations of anti-cyclin mAbs. For most cyclins optimal fixation is 70% ethanol. This treatment preserves cyclins, lowering the background, non-specific cell fluorescence and resulting in an improved signal-to-noise ratio of the cyclin specific fluorescence. Detection of D cyclin, however, requires fixation in formaldehyde. As far as anti-cyclin mAb concentration is concerned, 2.5mg/mL is optimal for most cells. Anyway, to test the best concentration for each experimental model, is recommended.
B.3.2 Anticipated results In this procedure, a negative control sample, which contains only the secondary FITC-mAb, is necessary.
B.3.3 Time considerations The protocol require around 2 hours before the overnight incubation and 5 hours after.
B.3.4 Key references
1. Darzynkiewicz, Z., Gong, J., Juan, G., Ardelt, B., Traganos, F. 1996. Cytometry of cyclin proteins. Cytometry. 25: 1.
2. Faretta, M., Bergamaschi, D., Ronzoni S., D’Incalci, M., Erba, E. 1997. Diferences in cyclin B1 expression in cell cycle blocked in the G2/M phase after treatment with anti-cancer agent. A new three parametric flow cytometry analysis. Proceedings of the XIV National Italian Meeting of Cytometry.
3. Gong, J., Traganos, F., Darzynkiewicz, Z. 1993. Simultaneous analysis of cell cycle kinetics at two different DNA ploidy levels based on DNA content and cyclin b measurements.Cancer Res. 53: 5096.
4. Gong, J., Li, X., Traganos, F., Darzynkiewicz, Z. 1994. Expression of G1 and G2 cyclins measured in individual cells by multiparameter flow cytometry: a new tool in the analysis of the cell cycle.Cell Prolif.27: 357.
5. Gong, J., Traganos, F., Darzynkiewicz, Z. 1995. Discrimination of G2 and mitotic cells by flow cytometry based on different expression of cyclins A and B1.Exp. Cell Res. 220: 226.
6. Widrow, R.J., Rabinovitch, P.S., Cho, K., Laird, C.H. 1997. Separation of cells at different times within G2 and mitosis by cyclin B1 flow cytometry.Cytometry27: 250.
cell/sample) are washed twice at 260 g for 5 min using 2 mL of PBS (pH 7.2).
2. Fix by 1 mL of 1% formaldehyde in PBS, on ice for 15 min. 3. Wash once as in step 1. 4. Resuspend in 1 mL of ice-cold ethanol 70% (at this point to store the samples at -20°C for 18 hours or overnight is possible). 5. As in step 3. 6. Resuspend in 50mL (for each sample) of the reaction mixture, which is prepared during the last spin down. 7. Incubate for 30 min at 37°C water bath. 8. As in step 3. 9. Resuspend in 100mL (for each sample) of the reaction staining buffer, which is prepared during the last spin down. 10. Incubate for 30 min at room temperature in the dark. 11. As in step 3. 12. Counterstain DNA with 5mg/mL of PI in PBS. 13. Incubate for 15 min at 4 °C in the dark. 14. Analyse with flow cytometer equipped with a 488 nm argon laser.
C.3. COMMENTARY
C.3.1 Background information This procedure is complex and not always good results are obtained. Thus, the use of commercial kits such as ApoTagTM(Oncor, Gaithersburg, MD, USA) and "In situ cell death detection Kit" (Boeringer-Mannheim, Germany), is highly recommended.
C.3.2 Anticipated results
To perform each experiment using a blank, a negative and a positive control samples, is recommended. The blank sample is assessed substituting step 9 as following: add 100
m
L of reaction staining buffer prepared without Avidin-FITC. The negative sample is assessed substituting step 6 as following: add 50
m
L of reaction staining buffer prepared without TdT enzyme. Blank and negative are performed in order to have a correct setting of the instrument. The positive sample, in order to make sure that the method works, is assessed by digesting with 75
m
L of DNAse buffer for 20 min at room temperature before step 6.
C.3.3 Time considerations The protocol require a quite long time. In particular 1 hour and half before the overnight incubation and a couple of hours after. Obviously, utilizing commercial kits the duration of method is highly reduced.
C.3.4 Key references
1. Gorczyca, W., Gong, J., Darzynkiewicz, Z. 1993. Detection of DNA strand breaks in individual apoptotic cells by the in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase and nick translation assays.
Cancer Res
. 52: 1945.
2. Gorczyca, W.,Tuziak,T., Kram, A., Melamed, M.R., Darzynkiewicz, Z. 1994. Detection of apoptosis-associated DNA strand breaks in fine-needle aspiration biopsies by in situ end labeling of fragmented DNA.Cytometry15: 169.
3. Li, X., Darzynkiewicz, Z. 1995. Labelling DNA strand breaks with BrdUTP. Detection of apoptosis and cell proliferation.Cell Prolif. 28: 571.
1. Cells are fixed in 1 mL of 1% PFA for 30 min on ice. 2. Wash with 0.1% Triton X-100 in PBS, and incubate with 0.1% sodium borohydride in PBS (pH 8.0) for 30 min. 3. Wash at 200 g for 5 min. 4. Incubate with 20mL of FITC-phalloidin (0.01-10.0mg/mL) for 1 hour at room temperature (or overnight at 4°C). 5. As in step 3. 6. Resuspended in 1 mL of a 5-50mg/mL PI in PBS and incubate for 30 min at 37°C. 7. Analysed with flow cytometer equipped with a 488 nm argon laser.
D.3. COMMENTARY
D.3.1 Background information Using this protocol, the acquisition and analysis of the samples is particularly important. Apoptotic and non apoptotic cells are distinguished on the basis of the green flourescence and the side scatter. Apoptotic cells have high side scatter and low FL-1 (1). The analysis of DNA content is relative to the different regions of apoptotic and non apoptotic cells.
In this procedure adherent cells can be utilized. In this case it is necessary to start the method as following:
i) add PFA 2% directly to the culture flasks for 30 min on ice. A volume equal to that in the culture flasks is added, making 1% the final PFA concentration;
ii) wash at 200 g for 5 min (continue to step 1).
D.3.3 Time considerations The protocol is relatively simple and fast, in particular 2 hours and half are basically necessary.
D.3.4 Key references 1. Endresen, P.C., Prytz, P. S., Aarbalcke J. 1995. A new flow cytometry method for discrimination of apoptoyic cells and detection of their cell cycle specificity through staining of F-Actin and DNA. Cytometry. 20: 162.
Appendix 1: Stock solutions
Solution
Preparation
Storage
A.Washing buffer
0.5%Tween 20 in PBS
4°C
A.Borax buffer
0.1M Borax (Sodium tetraborate-10-hydrate)
RT
A. PI buffer
3.4mM Trisodium Citrate, 9.65mM NaCl, PI 20 mg/ml, 0.03% Nonidet P-40 in H2O
50mL of solution was composed by: 37.8mL of deionized water + 5mL of TdT buffer (10X), + 5mL of CoCl2 (25mM), + 2mL of Bio-16-dUTP + 0.2mL TdT enzyme
0°C
C.TdT buffer (10X)
1M Na cacodylate (pH 7.0), 1mM dithiothreitol, 0.5 mg/mL serum albumin
4°C
C.staining buffer
100mL of solution was composed by: 54.2mL of deionized water + SSC buffer (20X), + 20mL of BLOTTO (25%) + 0.7mL Avidin-FITC (160X), + 0.1mL of Triton X-100
4°C
C.Avidin-FITC 160X
1 mg Avidin-FITC in 250mL PBS. Then diluit 1/10 in deionized water to have 160X stock