Apoptosis

Apoptosis assays for detecting and quantifying programmed cell death across multiple platforms

When you need to detect or quantify programmed cell death, apoptosis assays read one or more biochemical hallmarks: phosphatidylserine externalisation, caspase activation, mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, DNA fragmentation, and morphological change. Flow cytometry, plate-based fluorometry, microscopy, and Western all have a role.

Match readout to your endpoint.

1. Early-stage apoptosis. Choose annexin V plus PI on flow. Four-quadrant gating tells you live, early apoptotic, late apoptotic or dead.
2. Biochemical activation. Choose caspase-3/7 fluorogenic substrate on a plate reader for 96- or 384-well screens.
3. Late-stage. Choose TUNEL for in situ staining or DNA laddering on a gel.
4. Mitochondrial potential. Choose JC-1 or TMRM dyes on flow or microscopy.
5. Multiplexing with other death pathways. To distinguish apoptosis from necroptosis, ferroptosis, or pyroptosis combine annexin V plus PI with pathway-specific markers (RIP3 phosphorylation, lipid peroxidation, gasdermin cleavage).

For annexin V kits across fluorophore options, Elabscience. For pathway-resolved kits, AkrivisBio. For caspase-3/7 and Bcl-2-family ELISA, RayBiotech.