Polyclonal Antibody to Deoxyribonuclease IIα (human) (CT)

Apoptosis is characterized by several morphological nuclear changes including chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation. These changes are triggered by the activation of members of the caspase family, caspase activated DNase, and several novel proteins including AIF and Acinus [1]. DNase II causes both chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation [1]. The genes encoding human [2-4], porcine [4], and murine [5] DNase II have been cloned and homologs from more than 20 species have been reported [6]. The human DNase II gene encodes a 40kDa proenzyme. The mature enzyme consists of a single, contiguous chain, from which a signal peptide has been cleaved, featuring N-linked sugar moieties at asparagine residues (positions 86, 212, 266 and 290) and disulphide bridges at cysteine residues (positions 19, 159, 267, 308, 327 and 347), resulting in glycosylated protein of 45kDa [7,8]. Overexpression of DNase II induces chromatin condensation [3]. DNase II is ubiquitously expressed in human tissues [9].