Annexin V-FITC/PI Apoptosis Detection Kit

Apoptosis,or programmed cell death, is a mechanism of cells used to negatively selectcells that are deleterious to the host. The cellular changes involved in theprocess include loss of phospholipid asymmetry during the early stages ofapoptosis. In living cells, phosphatidylserine is transported to the inside ofthe lipid bilayer by the Mg-ATP dependent enzyme, aminophospholipidtranslocase. At the onset of apoptosis, phosphatidylserine, which is normallyfound on the internal part of the plasma membrane, becomes translocated to theexternal portion of the membrane. The phosphatidylserine becomes available tobind to the annexin V-FITC conjugate in the presence of calcium. Apoptosis maybe either spontaneous or induced by incubating the cells with staurosporine. Thecells are incubated with annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide(PI). After a 10minute incubation period at room temperature the cells are analyzed by flowcytometry. Annexin V-FITC is detected as a green fluorescence and propidiumiodide is detected as a red fluorescence.