Skip to main content

Senescence Detection Kit ab65351 is a senescence-associated beta-galactosidase staining kit / SA beta-gal staining kit. It is used to stain for SA-beta-Gal activity in cell cultures and frozen tissue sections.

- Cited in over 180 publications
- Individual kit components also available for purchase with a minimum order of 20 units. Contact us to discuss your needs.


Images

Immunohistochemistry (Frozen sections) - Senescence Detection Kit (AB65351), expandable thumbnail

Publications

Key facts

Detection method
Colorimetric
Sample types
Tissue, Adherent cells
Assay type
Enzyme activity
Assay time
1h 10m

Associated Products

Select an associated product type

1 product for Alternative Product

Target data

Function

Isoform 1. Cleaves beta-linked terminal galactosyl residues from gangliosides, glycoproteins, and glycosaminoglycans. Isoform 2. Has no beta-galactosidase catalytic activity, but plays functional roles in the formation of extracellular elastic fibers (elastogenesis) and in the development of connective tissue. Seems to be identical to the elastin-binding protein (EBP), a major component of the non-integrin cell surface receptor expressed on fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, chondroblasts, leukocytes, and certain cancer cell types. In elastin producing cells, associates with tropoelastin intracellularly and functions as a recycling molecular chaperone which facilitates the secretions of tropoelastin and its assembly into elastic fibers.

Alternative names

What's included?

5000 Test
Components
100X Staining Supplement
1 x 1.5 mL
Fixative Solution III
20 x 125 mL
Staining Solution I
1 x 125 mL
X-Gal
20 x 1 Each

Recommended products

Senescence Detection Kit ab65351 is a senescence-associated beta-galactosidase staining kit / SA beta-gal staining kit. It is used to stain for SA-beta-Gal activity in cell cultures and frozen tissue sections.

- Cited in over 180 publications
- Individual kit components also available for purchase with a minimum order of 20 units. Contact us to discuss your needs.

Key facts

Detection method
Colorimetric
Sample types
Tissue, Adherent cells
Assay type
Enzyme activity
Assay time
1h 10m

Storage

Shipped at conditions
Blue Ice
Appropriate short-term storage conditions
-20°C
Appropriate long-term storage conditions
-20°C
Storage information
Please refer to protocols

Notes

Senescence Detection Kit (ab65351) is designed to histochemically detect SA-beta-Gal activity in cultured cells and tissue sections, a known characteristic of senescent cells. The SA-beta-Gal is present only in senescent cells and is not found in presenescent, quiescent or immortal cells.

See Senescence Assay Kit Senescence Assay Kit (Beta Galactosidase, Fluorescence) ab228562 to detect beta galactosidase activity in senescent cells by flow cytometry.

SA beta-gal staining principle

The SA beta-gal staining assay includes:

- optimized tissue / cell fixative for beta-gal staining

- X-GAL beta galactosidase substrate; stains cells blue when acted on by beta-gal

- citric-phosphate beta-gal staining solution with potassium ferrocyanide / ferricyanide staining supplement

Senescence assay protocol summary
- wash cells / sections with PBS
- fix with fixative solution for 10 min
- wash with PBS
- incubate in staining solution mix for 1 hr
- analyze staining with a microscope

Other notes

This product was previously called K320 Biovision Senescence Detection Kit. Abcam acquired BioVision in 2021.

Senescence is thought to be a tumor suppressive mechanism and an underlying cause of aging. Senescence represents an arrested state in which the cells remain viable, but not stimulated to divide by serum or passage in culture. Senescent cells display increase of cell size, senescence-associated expression of beta-galactosidase (SA-beta-Gal) activity, and altered patterns of gene expression.

The Safety Datasheet for this product has been updated for certain countries. Please check the current version in the Support and downloads section.

Supplementary info

This supplementary information is collated from multiple sources and compiled automatically.
Activity summary

Senescence-associated beta-galactosidase often called SA-beta-gal is an enzyme that serves as a biomarker for cellular senescence. It is a lysosomal hydrolase with a molecular mass of approximately 120 kDa. This enzyme functions mechanically by catalyzing the hydrolysis of beta-galactosides into monosaccharides. SA-beta-gal is expressed extensively in senescent cells which accumulate in various tissues as organisms age.

Biological function summary

Senescence-associated beta-galactosidase functions as an indicator of the senescent state of cells. It does not act as part of a larger complex but is key in detecting an increase in lysosomal mass characteristic of senescence. During the aging process cells exhibit increased expression of this enzyme which scientists use in beta-galactosidase assays to identify senescent cells in culture. Fluorescence methods or beta-gal staining often facilitate visualization of senescent cells by binding to substrates processed by the enzyme.

Pathways

The enzyme is indicative of involvement in both the p53 and p16INK4a-Rb tumor suppression pathways. Although not an active participant itself SA-beta-gal reflects altered cellular metabolism linked to these pathways often in collaboration with proteins like p53 and p16INK4a which regulate cell cycle arrest. Additionally it aligns with the decline of mitochondrial function another hallmark of senescent cells influencing cellular aging and stress response pathways.

Associated diseases and disorders

SA-beta-gal activity correlates strongly with age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and certain types of cancer. As an aged cell marker its elevated presence can signify increased cellular senescence often contributing to tissue dysfunction and promoting disease progression. In Alzheimer's disease connections to amyloid precursor protein processing and tau pathology have been observed. In cancer SA-beta-gal works alongside proteins like p53 and p16INK4a to highlight cell cycle arrest anomalies where downregulated functionality or bypass can lead to unchecked cellular proliferation.

Product promise

We are dedicated to supporting your work with high quality reagents and we are here for you every step of the way should you need us.

In the unlikely event of one of our products not working as expected, you are covered by our product promise.

Full details and terms and conditions can be found here:
Terms & Conditions.

1 product image

  • Immunohistochemistry (Frozen sections) - Senescence Detection Kit (ab65351), expandable thumbnail
    Angelucci S et al., Proteome Sci, 8, 18, 2010 Reproduced under the Creative Commons license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0

    Immunohistochemistry (Frozen sections) - Senescence Detection Kit (ab65351)

    Senescence-associated beta-galactosidase staining at the 2nd(A), 4th(B), 8th(C), 12th passage in vitro expansion. Cells were plated at a density of 10,000 cells/cm2 for 24h before staining. Five representative images (100x) were taken from diverse areas of cell culture, using phase-contrast microscopy to assess the number of positive cells. Image obtained from Angelucci S et al; Proteome Sci, 2010 Mar 26;8:18

Downloads

Product protocols

For this product, it's our understanding that no specific protocols are required. You can:

Please note: All products are 'FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY. NOT FOR USE IN DIAGNOSTIC OR THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES'.

For licensing inquiries, please contact partnerships@abcam.com