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Stochastic modelling of apoptosis kinetics

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Abstract

Robust quantitative estimation of average whole cell mitochondrial dysfunction is a useful tool for assessing sensitivity to apoptotic stimuli induced either by novel agents, or following manipulation of apoptotic threshold by pharmacological or functional genomics approaches. We have mathematically modelled the kinetics of whole cell mitochondrial membrane potential depolarisation within a population of cells as a Bernouli transition. An exponential distribution enables the median latency preceding mitochondrial membrane potential disispation to be derived. The kinetic model can be fitted to in vitro single cell resolution data derived from kinetic flow cytometric studies by non-linear regression. We propose that kinetic determination of cumulative frequency distibutions provides a useful approach for estimating apoptosis sensitivity across cell populations over short time-frames.

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Abbreviations

AF:

amphipathic fluorophore

MIMP:

mitochondrial inner membrane permeabilization

MOMP:

mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization

PT:

permeability transition

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Functional Genomics Unit, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK

    D. A. Fennell MD PhD, A. Pallaska, M. Corbo & F. E. Cotter

  2. Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen’s University, U Floor, City Hospital, Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7AB, Northern Ireland

    D. A. Fennell MD PhD

Authors
  1. D. A. Fennell MD PhD
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  2. A. Pallaska
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  3. M. Corbo
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  4. F. E. Cotter
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. A. Fennell MD PhD.

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Fennell, D.A., Pallaska, A., Corbo, M. et al. Stochastic modelling of apoptosis kinetics. Apoptosis 10, 447–452 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10495-005-0818-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10495-005-0818-2

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