The Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology announced on the 28th that the research team led by Senior Researcher Kim Sun-wook from the Advanced Animal Resource Center has developed a “fluorescent reporter” technology capable of tracking the process of cell death in real-time.
Cells in our body naturally undergo death after a certain period, which is a process essential for maintaining bodily balance. If old or damaged cells are not removed, diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and dementia may occur.
Scientists have utilized precise observations of cell death to assess cancer cell responses to chemotherapy, track the progression of degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, and verify the early diagnosis and treatment effectiveness of diseases.
Until now, methods such as microscopic observation, gene analysis, and fluorescent protein technology have been primarily used to detect cell death. However, traditional analysis methods are limited by complex preprocessing steps and real-time cell tracking challenges due to sample destruction.
The research team used the enzyme “caspase-3,” known for its role as the “final executor” in cell death. They inserted a specific amino acid sequence that caspase-3 cleaves into a “green fluorescent protein (GFP)” that appears green under light. The principle is that when caspase-3 activates, it cleaves the fluorescent substance, causing the light to go out, allowing researchers to track the process of cell death in real-time.
The simplicity of the operation and the ability to measure fluorescence extinction using only a single material, GFP, are the advantages of this technology. The research team stated that they have implemented the simplest operating principle and ultra-compact structure among GFP fluorescent reporters, significantly enhancing the sensitivity and accuracy of the sensor.
The team successfully used the developed technology to track the process of cell death in real-time under various conditions, such as exposure to toxic substances and anti-cancer drugs. This technology can be applied to not only cancer cell lines but also various animal cell models, and it is expected to be widely used in evaluating the cytotoxicity of new drug candidates and verifying the efficacy of drugs.
Kim, the Senior Researcher, stated, “The newly developed sensor allows for much more sensitive and convenient observation of cell death compared to existing methods. It is expected to be widely utilized in rapidly verifying the effectiveness of new drug candidates like anti-cancer drugs and in research on degenerative brain diseases where cell death plays a crucial role.”