Comet Assay

The Comet Assay, also called single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE), is a sensitive and rapid technique for quantifying and analyzing DNA damage in individual cells. As such, this is one of the techniques used in the area of cancer research for the evaluation of genotoxicity and effectiveness of chemoprevention. Swedish researchers Östling & Johansson developed this technique in 1984.¹ Singh, et al., later modified this technique, in 1988, as the Alkaline Comet Assay.² The resulting image that is obtained resembles a "comet" with a distinct head and tail. The head is composed of intact DNA, while the tail consists of damaged (single-strand or double-strand breaks) or broken pieces of DNA. While most of the applications of the Comet Assay have been to study animal eukaryotes, there have been reports of successful application in the study of plant cells.

Individual cells are embedded in a thin agarose gel on a microscope slide. All cellular proteins are then removed from the cells by lysing. The DNA is allowed to unwind under alkaline/neutral conditions. Following the unwinding, the DNA undergoes electrophoresis, allowing the broken DNA fragments or damaged DNA to migrate away from the nucleus. After staining with a DNA-specific fluorescent dye such as ethidium bromide or propidium iodide, the gel is read for amount of fluorescence in head and tail and length of tail. The extent of DNA liberated from the head of the comet is directly proportional to the amount of DNA damage.

The Comet Assay can be used to detect DNA damage caused by double strand breaks, single strand breaks, alkali labile sites, oxidative base damage, and DNA cross-linking with DNA or protein. The Comet Assay is also used to monitor DNA repair by living cells.³

The Comet Assay Interest Group website includes references and protocols for the Comet Assay and maintains a list of companies that sell software for comet assay image analysis.⁴

Suggested Sigma-Aldrich^® products for use with the Comet Assay Protocol

Buffers and Lysis Detergent

Isolation of Lymphocytes from Whole Blood

Electrophoresis

DNA Staining

Cited References

1. Ostling, O., and Johanson, K.J., Microelectrophoretic study of radiation-induced DNA damages in individual mammalian cells. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 123, 291-8 (1984).
2. Singh, N.P, et al., A simple technique for quantitation of low levels of DNA damage in individual cells. Exp. Cell Res., 175, 184-91 (1988).
3. Collins, A.R., The comet assay for DNA damage and repair (Review). Molecular Biotechnology, 26, 249-261 (2004).
4. Comet Assay Interest Group website cometassay.com.

Review Articles and General References for Comet Assays

1. Anderson D., et al., Comet assay responses as indicators of carcinogen exposure. (Review) Mutagenesis, 13, 539-555. (1998).
2. Fairbairn, D.W., et al., The Comet assay: a comprehensive review. (Review) Mutat. Res., 339, 37-59 (1995).
3. McKelvey-Martin, V.J., et al., The single cell gel electrophoresis assay (comet assay): A European review. (Review) Mutat. Res., 288, 47-63 (1993).
4. Rojas, E., et al, Single cell gel electrophoresis. Methodology and applications. (Review) J. Chromatogr. B Biomed. Sci. Appl. 722, 225-254 (1999).
5. Tice, R.R., et al., Single cell gel/comet assay: guidelines for in vitro and in vivo genetic toxicology testing. Environ Mol Mutagen, 35, 206-21 (2000).
6. Comet Assay Forum website, Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Lucknow, India.

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