title: New reagents for phosphatidylserine recognition and detection of apoptosis.
abstract: The phospholipid bilayer surrounding animal cells is made up of four principle phospholipid components, phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS), and sphingomyelin (SM). These four phospholipids are distributed between the two monolayers of the membrane in an asymmetrical fashion, with PC and SM largely populating the extracellular leaflet and PE and PS restricted primarily to the inner leaflet. Breakdown in this transmembrane phospholipid asymmetry is a hallmark of the early to middle stages of apoptosis. The consequent appearance of PS on the extracellular membrane leaflet is commonly monitored using dye-labeled Annexin V, a 36 kDa, Ca2+-dependent PS binding protein. Substitutes for Annexin V are described, including small molecules, nanoparticles, cationic liposomes, and other proteins that can recognize PS in a membrane surface. Particular attention is given to the use of these reagents for detecting apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Walther Center for Cancer Research, 251 Nieuwland Science Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556-5670, USA.
authors.forename: Roger G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Hanshaw
authors.forename: Bradley D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D010718:Phosphatidylserines