TUNEL assay

Method

Terminal uridine deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) is a common method for detecting catalyze the addition of dUTPs that are secondarily labeled with a marker. It may also label cells undergoing necrosis or cells that have suffered severe DNA damage.

History

Originally described in the paper by Garvrieli, Sherman, and Ben-Sasson, ^[1] TUNEL has become one of the main methods for detecting apoptotic programmed cell death. However, for years there has been a debate about its accuracy, due to problems in the original assay which caused necrotic cells to be inappropriately labeled as apoptotic^[2]. The method has subsequently been improved dramatically and if performed correctly should only identify cells in the last phase of apoptosis^[3][4].

References

1. ^ Gavrieli Y, Sherman Y, Ben-Sasson SA. J Cell Biol. 1992 Nov;119(3):493-501.
2. ^ Grasl-Kraupp B, Ruttkay-Nedecky B, Koudelka H, Bukowska K, Bursch W, Schulte-Hermann R. Hepatology. 1995 May;21(5):1465-8.
3. ^ Negoescu A, Lorimier P, Labat-Moleur F, Drouet C, Robert C, Guillermet C, Brambilla C, Brambilla E. J Histochem Cytochem. 1996 Sep;44(9):959-68.
4. ^ Negoescu A, Guillermet C, Lorimier P, Brambilla E, Labat-Moleur F. Biomed Pharmacother. 1998;52(6):252-8.