Cell Signaling Technology

Product Pathways - Cell Cycle / Checkpoint

Senescence beta-Galactosidase Staining Kit #9860

Kit IncludesQuantity
Fixative 15 milliliters
Staining Solution 15 milliliters
Solution A 1.5 milliliters
Solution B 1.5 milliliters
X-Gal 150 milligrams

Description

The Senescence β-Galactosidase Staining Kit* is designed to histochemically detect β-galactosidase activity at pH 6, a known characteristic of senescent cells not found in presenescent, quiescent or immortal cells (3). The kit includes all reagents necessary for this assay.

Specificity / Sensitivity

The kit detects only β-galactosidase activity at pH 6 in cultured cells and tissue sections. β-galactosidase activity at pH 6 is present only in senescent cells and is not found in presenescent, quiescent or immortal cells.

IC-ABC

IC-ABC

beta-galactosidase staining at pH 6 on normal WI38 cells at population doubling 29 (left) and senescent WI38 cells at population doubling 36 (right).

Background

Limited capacity to replicate is a defining characteristic of most normal cells and culminates in senescence, an arrested state in which the cell remains viable (1). Senescent cells are not stimulated to divide by serum or passage in culture, and senescence invokes a specific cell cycle profile that differs from most damage-induced arrest processes or contact inhibition (2). An enlarged cell size, expression of pH-dependent beta-galactosidase activity (3), and an altered pattern of gene expression (4,5) further characterize senescent cells.

  1. Goldstein, S. (1990) Science 249, 1129-1133.
  2. Sherwood, S. W. et al. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. , USA 85, 9086-9090.
  3. Dimri, G. et al. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 92, 9363-9367.
  4. Cristofalo, V. J. et al. (1998) Crit. Rev. Eukaryot Gene Expr. 8, 43-80.
  5. Linskens, M. H. et al. (1995) Nucleic Acid Res. 23, 3244-3251.

Application References

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Companion Products

This product is for in vitro research use only and is not intended for use in humans or animals. This product is not intended for use as therapeutic or in diagnostic procedures.

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