Assessment of telomere length, phenotype, and DNA content

Curr Protoc Cytom. 2004 Sep:Chapter 7:Unit 7.26. doi: 10.1002/0471142956.cy0726s29.

Abstract

Telomere sequences at the end of chromosomes control somatic cell division; therefore, telomere length in a given cell population provides information about its replication potential. This unit describes a method for flow cytometric measurement of telomere length in subpopulations using fluorescence in situ hybridization of fluorescently-labeled probes (Flow-FISH) without prior cell separation. After cells are stained for surface immunofluorescence, antigen-antibody complexes are covalently cross-linked onto cell membranes before FISH with a telomere-specific probe. Cells with long telomeres are included as internal standards. Addition of a DNA dye permits exclusion of proliferating cells during data analysis. DNA ploidy measurements of cells of interest and internal standard are performed on separate aliquots in parallel to Flow-FISH. Telomere fluorescence of G(0/1) cells of subpopulations and internal standards obtained from Flow-FISH are normalized for DNA ploidy and telomere length in subsets of interest is expressed as a fraction of the internal standard telomere length.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA / analysis*
  • Flow Cytometry / methods*
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Phenotype
  • Ploidies
  • Resting Phase, Cell Cycle
  • Telomere / chemistry*
  • Telomere / ultrastructure

Substances

  • DNA