Senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-β-gal or SABG) is a hypothetical hydrolase enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of β-galactosides into monosaccharides only in senescent cells.Its existence was proposed in 1995 by Dimri et al.following the observation that when beta-galactosidase assays were carried out at pH 6.0, only cells in senescence state develop staining. They proposed a cytochemical assay based on production of a blue-dyed precipitate that results from the cleavage of the chromogenic substrate X-Gal. Since then, even more specific quantitative assays were developed for its detection at pH 6.0.Today this phenomenon is explained by the overexpression and accumulation of the endogenous lysosomal beta-galactosidasespecifically in senescent cells. Its expression is not required for senescence. However, it remains as the most widely used biomarker for senescent and aging cells, because it is easy to detect and reliable both in situ and in vitro.More in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senescence-associated_beta-galactosidaseb-半乳糖苷酶会在衰老的细胞中活化,它是在溶酶体内的水解酶,ph4的时候才有活性,但在衰老细胞中一样可以活化,而且不断积累细胞衰老的两个表型就是 b-半乳糖苷酶积累 和 细胞生长停滞,分裂停止。