Facile and quantitative electrochemical detection of yeast cell apoptosis

An electrochemical method based on square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) was developed to detect the apoptosis of yeast cells conveniently and quantitatively through the high affinity between Cu(2+) and phosphatidylserine (PS) translocated from the inner to the outer plasma membrane of the apoptotic cells. The combination of negatively charged PS and Cu(2+) could decrease the electrochemical response of Cu(2+) on the electrode. The results showed that the apoptotic rates of cells could be detected quantitatively through the variations of peak currents of Cu(2+) by SWASV, and agreed well with those obtained through traditional flow cytometry detection. This work thus may provide a novel, simple, immediate and accurate detection method for cell apoptosis.