NYMC Faculty Publications
Analysis of Cellular DNA Content by Flow Cytometry
DOI
10.1002/cpcy.28
Journal Title
Current Protocols in Cytometry
First Page
7.5.1
Last Page
7.5.20
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-2017
Department
Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
Keywords
DNA Ploidy, Cell Cycle, DNA Fragmentation, Apoptosis, Ploidies, Flow Cytometry
Disciplines
Biological Phenomena, Cell Phenomena, and Immunity | Medical Cell Biology | Medicine and Health Sciences | Nanotechnology
Abstract
Cellular DNA content can be measured by flow cytometry with the aim of : (1) revealing cell distribution within the major phases of the cell cycle, (2) estimating frequency of apoptotic cells with fractional DNA content, and/or (3) disclosing DNA ploidy of the measured cell population. In this unit, simple and universally applicable methods for staining fixed cells are presented, as are methods that utilize detergents and/or proteolytic treatment to permeabilize cells and make DNA accessible to fluorochrome. Additionally, supravital cell staining with Hoechst 33342, which is primarily used for sorting live cells based on DNA-content differences for their subsequent culturing, is described. Also presented are methods for staining cell nuclei isolated from paraffin-embedded tissues. Available algorithms are listed for deconvolution of DNA-content-frequency histograms to estimate percentage of cells in major phases of the cell cycle and frequency of apoptotic cells with fractional DNA content. (c) 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Recommended Citation
Darzynkiewicz, Z., Huang, X., & Zhao, H. (2017). Analysis of Cellular DNA Content by Flow Cytometry. Current Protocols in Cytometry, 82, 7.5.1-7.5.20. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpcy.28
