Cell Senescence β-Galactosidase Staining Kit

Due to limited replicative lifespan, normal cells enter cell cycle arrest, also known as cellular senescence1. While in this senescence phase the cells remain metabolically active without undergoing cell death or division. These senescent cells adopt a specific phenotypic state that includes the appearance of multinucleated cells, increased vacuolization, expression of pH-dependent β-galactosidase, and morphological changes where cells become enlarged and extended2, 3. Senescence, through a variety of mechanisms, can also play a role in tumor suppression, tumor progression, aging, and tissue repair.

β-galactosidase (also known as β-gal) is an essential hydrolase enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of galactose-containing carbohydrates into monosaccharides. Substrates of β-galactosides include lactose, various glycoproteins, ganglioside GM1, and lactosylceramides. β-galactosidase is used widely in molecular biology; for example, isolation of recombinant bacteria during molecular cloning utilizes α-complementation of the bacterial β-galactosidase gene (lacZ) in the presence of a β-gal substrate to identify recombinant clones. In cell biology, Senescence-Associated beta-galactosidase (SA-β-gal), defined as β-gal activity at pH 6.0, is a widely used marker of replicative senescence.

MCE Cell Senescence β-Galactosidase Staining Kit is based on SA-β-gal catalyzing the transformation of X Gal (5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β-D-galactopyranoside, 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β-D-galactopyranoside, X-gal) into a blue product at pH 6. This allows for the visualization of cell or tissue senescence under the microscope.