This volume presents a comprehensive collection of quick assays for the detection of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA damage and its effects in live and fixed cells and tissues, and in bacterial genomes. Although, such rapid techniques are in demand in the "research trenches" they are not covered well in the literature. This volume is the first such compendium of the time-saving techniques for detection of DNA damage and its direct physiological outcomes including apoptosis, necrosis and phagocytic clearance. The volume demonstrates all levels of detection, starting from the molecular level up to the level of the entire live organism. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Fast Detection of DNA Damage: Methods and Protocols aims to provide easily reproducible techniques requiring only few steps to perform.

Fluorescent nucleic acid probes, which use energy transfer, include such constructs as molecular beacons, molecular break lights, Scorpion primers, TaqMan probes, and others. These probes signal detection of their targets by changing either the intensity or the color of their fluorescence. Not surpr- ingly, these luminous, multicolored probes carry more flashy names than their counterparts in the other fields of molecular biology. In recent years, fluor- cent probes and assays, which make use of energy transfer, have multiplied at a high rate and have found numerous applications. However, in spite of this explosive growth in the field, there are no manuals summarizing different p- tocols and fluorescent probe designs. In view of this, the main objective of Fluorescent Energy Transfer Nucleic Acid Probes: Designs and Protocols is to provide such a collection. Oligonucleotides with one or several chromophore tags can form fluor- cent probes capable of energy transfer. Energy transport within the probe can occur via the resonance energy transfer mechanism, also called Foerster tra- fer, or by non-Foerster transfer mechanisms. Although the probes using Foerster transfer were developed and used first, the later non-Foerster-based probes, such as molecular beacons, now represent an attractive and widely used option. The term "fluorescent energy transfer probes" in the title of this book covers both Foerster-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) probes and probes using non-FRET mechanisms. Energy transfer probes serve as molecule-size sensors, changing their fluorescence upon detection of various DNA reactions.

Detection and analysis of DNA damage is of critical importance in a variety of biological disciplines studying apoptosis, cell cycle and cell di- sion, carcinogenesis, tumor growth, embryogenesis and aging, neu- degenerative and heart diseases, anticancer drug development, environmental and radiobiological research, and others. Individual cells within the same tissue or in cell culture may vary in the extent of their DNA damage and, consequently, can display different re- tions to it. These differences between individual cells in the same cell popu- tion are detected using in situ approaches. In situ is a Latin term meaning "on site" or "in place." It is used to denote the processes occurring or detected in their place of origin. In mole- lar and cell biology this usually refers to undisrupted mounted cells or tissue sections. In that meaning "in situ" is used as part of the terms "in situ PCR," "in situ transcription," "in situ hybridization," "in situ end labeling," and "in situ ligation." Sometimes the "in situ" term is applied at the subcellular level to cells disrupted in the process of analysis, for example, in the detection of specific sequences in chromosomes using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Historically, the term was used primarily in methods dealing with nucleic acids.

This volume presents a comprehensive collection of quick assays for the detection of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA damage and its effects in live and fixed cells and tissues, and in bacterial genomes. Although, such rapid techniques are in demand in the "research trenches" they are not covered well in the literature. This volume is the first such compendium of the time-saving techniques for detection of DNA damage and its direct physiological outcomes including apoptosis, necrosis and phagocytic clearance. The volume demonstrates all levels of detection, starting from the molecular level up to the level of the entire live organism. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Fast Detection of DNA Damage: Methods and Protocols aims to provide easily reproducible techniques requiring only few steps to perform.

Recent advances in organic chemistry, fluorescent microscopy, and materials science have created an entirely new range of techniques and probes for imaging DNA damage in molecular and cellular biology. In DNA Damage Detection In Situ, Ex Vivo, and In Vivo: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers explore the latest advances in the area, covering both recent and established techniques to detect and quantify DNA damage at scales ranging from subcellular to the level of a whole live organism. Chapters present all major assays used in molecular and cellular biology for the labeling of DNA damage in situ, ex vivo, and in vivo. Composed in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) series format, each chapter contains a brief introduction, step-by-step methods, a list of necessary materials, and a Notes section which shares tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Comprehensive and current, DNA Damage Detection In Situ, Ex Vivo, and In Vivo: Methods and Protocols is an essential handbook for novice and experienced researchers in a variety of fields, including molecular and cellular biology, experimental and clinical pathology, toxicology, radiobiology, oncology, embryology, experimental pharmacology, drug design, and environmental science.

Detection and analysis of DNA damage is of critical importance in a variety of biological disciplines studying apoptosis, cell cycle and cell di- sion, carcinogenesis, tumor growth, embryogenesis and aging, neu- degenerative and heart diseases, anticancer drug development, environmental and radiobiological research, and others. Individual cells within the same tissue or in cell culture may vary in the extent of their DNA damage and, consequently, can display different re- tions to it. These differences between individual cells in the same cell popu- tion are detected using in situ approaches. In situ is a Latin term meaning "on site" or "in place." It is used to denote the processes occurring or detected in their place of origin. In mole- lar and cell biology this usually refers to undisrupted mounted cells or tissue sections. In that meaning "in situ" is used as part of the terms "in situ PCR," "in situ transcription," "in situ hybridization," "in situ end labeling," and "in situ ligation." Sometimes the "in situ" term is applied at the subcellular level to cells disrupted in the process of analysis, for example, in the detection of specific sequences in chromosomes using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Historically, the term was used primarily in methods dealing with nucleic acids.