Abstract
An electrochemical method based on square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) was developed to detect the apoptosis of yeast cells conveniently and quantitatively through the high affinity between Cu(2+) and phosphatidylserine (PS) translocated from the inner to the outer plasma membrane of the apoptotic cells. The combination of negatively charged PS and Cu(2+) could decrease the electrochemical response of Cu(2+) on the electrode. The results showed that the apoptotic rates of cells could be detected quantitatively through the variations of peak currents of Cu(2+) by SWASV, and agreed well with those obtained through traditional flow cytometry detection. This work thus may provide a novel, simple, immediate and accurate detection method for cell apoptosis.