DFFB
DFFB (DNA fragmentation factor subunit beta, also known as CAD, CPAN, DFF-40 or DFF40) is a nuclease that induces DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation during apoptosis. It is the active component of the DNA fragmentation factor complex. Browse Assay Genie's current range of DFFB research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
Apoptosis removes toxic or unneeded cells during mammalian development, and it is accompanied by shrinkage and fragmentation of cells and nuclei and degradation of chromosomal DNA into nucleosomal units. DFFB is the nuclease that carries out this step. It degrades naked DNA and induces apoptotic morphology, triggering both DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation.
DFFB forms the 40 kDa subunit of the heterodimeric DNA fragmentation factor (DFF), together with the 45 kDa subunit DFFA. DFFA is the substrate for caspase-3. When caspase-3 cleaves DFFA, the cleaved fragments dissociate from DFFB, which is the active component of DFF, and nuclease activity is released. UniProt lists the protein in the cytoplasm and nucleus, and it is classed with a general hydrolase EC number of 3.-.-.-. Researchers studying the DFFB gene or DFFB protein often examine it alongside DFFA as a pair.
The gene is a member of the HGNC group of DNA fragmentation factor subunits. Its previous name, DNA fragmentation factor, 40kDa, beta polypeptide (caspase-activated DNase), reflects the caspase-dependent activation mechanism, and the aliases CAD and CPAN appear in the literature. NCBI Gene reports alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms, although the biological validity of some of these variants has not been determined. Mouse and rat orthologs are both named Dffb.
DFFB executes DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation, making it a central effector in studies of the final stages of apoptotic cell death.
DFFB is released when caspase-3 cleaves DFFA, so it is used to study how caspase activity is converted into nuclear events.
As a nuclease that degrades naked DNA into nucleosomal units, DFFB is relevant to work on how chromosomal DNA is broken down in dying cells.
Apoptosis removes toxic or unneeded cells during mammalian development, and DFFB provides a route to examine the nuclear changes involved.
DFFB is a nuclease that induces DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation during apoptosis. It degrades naked DNA and induces apoptotic morphology. It is the active component of the DNA fragmentation factor, released when caspase-3 cleaves its partner subunit DFFA.
DFFB is also called CAD, CPAN, DFF-40 and DFF40. Its former HGNC name was DNA fragmentation factor, 40kDa, beta polypeptide (caspase-activated DNase). NCBI Gene notes alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms, though the validity of some has not been determined.
Yes. Mouse and rat both have an ortholog named Dffb, so the apoptotic DNA fragmentation pathway can be studied in rodent systems. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
DFFA, caspase-3 and other apoptosis pathway targets with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt O76075; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.