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The Comet Assay: A Sensitive Genotoxicity Test for the Detection of DNA Damage and Repair

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DNA Repair Protocols

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 920))

Abstract

The comet assay (single-cell gel electrophoresis) is a simple and sensitive method for studying DNA damage and repair. In this microgel electrophoresis technique, a small number of cells suspended in a thin agarose gel on a microscope slide is lysed, electrophoresed, and stained with a fluorescent DNA-binding dye. Cells with increased DNA damage display increased migration of chromosomal DNA from the nucleus towards the anode, which resembles the shape of a comet. The assay has manifold applications in fundamental research for DNA damage and repair, in genotoxicity testing of novel chemicals and pharmaceuticals, environmental biomonitoring, and human population monitoring. This chapter describes a standard protocol of the alkaline comet assay and points to some useful modifications.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Humangenetik, Universität Ulm, Ulm, Germany

    Günter Speit

  2. Pharmaceuticals Division, LaRoche AG, Basel, Switzerland

    Andreas Rothfuss

Authors
  1. Günter Speit
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  2. Andreas Rothfuss
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Günter Speit .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Molecular Biology, Aarhus University, C.F Møllers Allé bygning 1130, Århus C, 8000, Denmark

    Lotte Bjergbæk

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Speit, G., Rothfuss, A. (2012). The Comet Assay: A Sensitive Genotoxicity Test for the Detection of DNA Damage and Repair. In: Bjergbæk, L. (eds) DNA Repair Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 920. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-998-3_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-998-3_6

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-997-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-998-3

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