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Related Concept Videos

Overview of DNA Repair02:25

Overview of DNA Repair

In order to be passed through generations, genomic DNA must be undamaged and error-free. However, every day, DNA in a cell undergoes several thousand to a million damaging events by natural causes and external factors. Ionizing radiation such as UV rays, free radicals produced during cellular respiration, and hydrolytic damage from metabolic reactions can alter the structure of DNA. Damages caused include single-base alteration, base dimerization, chain breaks, and cross-linkage.
Chemically...
Overview of DNA Repair02:25

Overview of DNA Repair

In order to be passed through generations, genomic DNA must be undamaged and error-free. However, every day, DNA in a cell undergoes several thousand to a million damaging events by natural causes and external factors. Ionizing radiation such as UV rays, free radicals produced during cellular respiration, and hydrolytic damage from metabolic reactions can alter the structure of DNA. Damages caused include single-base alteration, base dimerization, chain breaks, and cross-linkage.
Chemically...
DNA Damage Can Stall the Cell Cycle02:36

DNA Damage Can Stall the Cell Cycle

In response to DNA damage, cells can pause the cell cycle to assess and repair the breaks. However, the cell must check the DNA at certain critical stages during the cell cycle. If the cell cycle pauses before DNA replication, the cells will contain twice the amount of DNA. On the other hand, if cells arrest after DNA replication but before mitosis, they will contain four times the normal amount of DNA. With a host of specialized proteins at their disposal,cells must use the right protein at...
DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle02:36

DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle

In response to DNA damage, cells can pause the cell cycle to assess and repair the breaks. However, the cell must check the DNA at certain critical stages during the cell cycle. If the cell cycle pauses before DNA replication, the cells will contain twice the amount of DNA. On the other hand, if cells arrest after DNA replication but before mitosis, they will contain four times the normal amount of DNA. With a host of specialized proteins at their disposal,cells must use the right protein at...
Nucleotide Excision Repair01:38

Nucleotide Excision Repair

DNA Distortion and Damage
Cells are regularly exposed to mutagens—factors in the environment that can damage DNA and generate mutations. UV radiation is one of the most common mutagens and is estimated to introduce a significant number of changes in DNA. These include bends or kinks in the structure, which can block DNA replication or transcription. If these errors are not fixed, the damage can cause mutations, which in turn can result in cancer or disease depending on which sequences are...
Nucleotide Excision Repair01:08

Nucleotide Excision Repair

Overview

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Visualizing and Quantifying Endonuclease-Based Site-Specific DNA Damage
10:59

Visualizing and Quantifying Endonuclease-Based Site-Specific DNA Damage

Published on: August 21, 2021

DNA damage response and apoptosis.

Dragos Plesca1, Suparna Mazumder, Alexandru Almasan

  • 1Department of Cancer Biology, The Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Methods in Enzymology
|July 8, 2008
PubMed
Summary

This study details methods for analyzing cellular responses to DNA damage, focusing on apoptosis. Key techniques include detecting phospho-histone H2AX, assessing morphologic changes, and examining mitochondrial pathways for DNA damage-induced cell death.

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Cell Cycle-specific Measurement of γH2AX and Apoptosis After Genotoxic Stress by Flow Cytometry
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Characterizing DNA Repair Processes at Transient and Long-lasting Double-strand DNA Breaks by Immunofluorescence Microscopy
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Cell Cycle-specific Measurement of γH2AX and Apoptosis After Genotoxic Stress by Flow Cytometry
08:21

Cell Cycle-specific Measurement of γH2AX and Apoptosis After Genotoxic Stress by Flow Cytometry

Published on: September 1, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cellular DNA damage can trigger programmed cell death (apoptosis).
  • Histone variant H2AX phosphorylation (phospho-H2AX) is a sensitive marker for DNA double-strand breaks (DSB).
  • Understanding DNA damage response pathways is crucial for cell death research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review common laboratory techniques for assessing DNA damage response and apoptosis.
  • To highlight methods for evaluating morphologic, biochemical, and molecular changes during apoptosis.
  • To provide a practical guide for researchers in the field.

Main Methods:

  • Detection of phospho-H2AX as a marker for DSBs.
  • Flow cytometry and staining (trypan blue, Hoechst) for detecting apoptotic morphologic changes (nuclear condensation, sub-G1 DNA content).
  • Annexin V/propidium iodide staining for plasma membrane changes and distinguishing apoptotic/necrotic stages.
  • Assessing caspase activation and mitochondrial protein translocation (Bax, cytochrome c).

Main Results:

  • Phospho-H2AX serves as a reliable indicator of DNA damage.
  • Multiple methods can identify and differentiate apoptotic cells.
  • Caspase activation and mitochondrial dynamics are key biochemical events in apoptosis.
  • Mitochondrial pathways involving Bcl-2 family proteins are critical in DNA damage-induced apoptosis.

Conclusions:

  • A comprehensive set of techniques is available to study DNA damage-induced apoptosis.
  • These methods allow for detailed examination of cellular responses at morphologic, biochemical, and molecular levels.
  • The discussed techniques are essential for advancing research in cell death and DNA repair.