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Apoptosis

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a combination of two Greek words, 'apo' and 'ptosis,' meaning separation and falling off, respectively. Hippocrates used this word to describe gangrene, which was caused due to bandaging of fractured bones. Apoptosis was distinguished from necrosis in 1970 when John Kerr reported observations of morphological changes occurring during apoptosis. During one experiment, he observed that the disruption of blood supply to the liver tissue resulted in a size reduction of the tissue.

Overview of Cell Death

Overview of Cell Death

Cell death is an essential process where the body gets rid of old or damaged cells. Cell proliferation and death need to be balanced, as an imbalance between the two may lead to cancer or autoimmune diseases.
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the 20th century...

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Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Detection and Isolation of Apoptotic Bodies to High Purity

Detection and Isolation of Apoptotic Bodies to High Purity

Published on: August 12, 2018

Electrochemical approach to detect apoptosis.

Han Xiao, Lei Liu, Fanben Meng

Analytical Chemistry

|June 6, 2008

Summary

This study presents a novel electrochemical method for detecting apoptosis using a ferrocene-modified peptide electrode. The approach offers sensitive and specific detection of apoptotic cells without complex equipment or fluorescent labels.

Area of Science:

Biomedical Engineering
Electrochemistry
Cell Biology

Background:

Apoptosis detection is crucial for understanding diseases like cancer.
Current methods often rely on fluorescence or complex assays.
There is a need for simpler, more accessible detection techniques.

Discussion:

A novel electrochemical sensor was developed using a gold electrode modified with a helix peptide containing ferrocene (Fc).
The peptide acts as a recognition and cleavage site for caspase-3, a key enzyme in apoptosis.
Ferrocene serves as an electroactive reporter, enabling signal transduction.

Key Insights:

The developed electrochemical approach achieved sensitive and specific detection of apoptotic cells.
A significant signal decline of 85% was observed, indicating high detection capability.

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Monitoring Cleaved Caspase-3 Activity and Apoptosis of Immortalized Oligodendroglial Cells using Live-cell Imaging and Cleaveable Fluorogenic-dye Substrates Following Potassium-induced Membrane Depolarization

Monitoring Cleaved Caspase-3 Activity and Apoptosis of Immortalized Oligodendroglial Cells using Live-cell Imaging and Cleaveable Fluorogenic-dye Substrates Following Potassium-induced Membrane Depolarization

Published on: January 13, 2012

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Last Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Detection and Isolation of Apoptotic Bodies to High Purity

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Published on: August 12, 2018

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Monitoring Cleaved Caspase-3 Activity and Apoptosis of Immortalized Oligodendroglial Cells using Live-cell Imaging and Cleaveable Fluorogenic-dye Substrates Following Potassium-induced Membrane Depolarization

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This method eliminates the need for fluorescent materials, expensive instruments, or complicated procedures.

Outlook:

This technique offers a cost-effective and user-friendly alternative for apoptosis detection.
Potential applications include early disease diagnosis and drug screening.
Further optimization could enhance sensitivity and expand its utility in various biological research settings.