Molecular Probes™ NucGreen™ Dead 488 ReadyProbes™ Reagent (SYTOX™ Green)

Description

NucGreen Dead 488 ReadyProbes Reagent is a cell-impermeant stain that emits exceptionally bright, green fluorescence when bound to DNA. Cells that have lost plasma membrane integrity are stained within minutes, making this an extremely useful stain to estimate live/dead cell ratios and to measure cytotoxicity in kinetic live-cell assays. It is also suitable for staining nuclei in fixed cell preparations and tissue sections.

• Exceptionally bright green fluorescence upon binding to DNA
• Rapid staining of damaged, dead, or fixed cells without wash steps
• Ready-to-use liquid formulation in convenient dropper bottle—no need to dilute, weigh, or pipette
• Stability at room temperature—keep handy at your scope or cell

Cell imaging applications

The membrane-impermeable NucGreen Dead 488 reagent is a high-affinity DNA stain that easily stains cells with compromised cell membranes, yet does not enter living cells. It is therefore ideal for discrimination of live and dead cells. The fluorescence increases more than 500-fold on binding to dsDNA in cells with compromised cell membranes (dying or dead cells), in fixed cells, and tissue slices. The spectral properties, with excitation/emission at 504/523 nm when bound to DNA, are ideal for standard FITC filters.

Suggestions for use

• NucGreen Dead 488 reagent may be added directly to cells in full media or buffer solutions
• It easily stains nuclei of fixed cells and tissue slices
• In most cases, 2 drops/ml and an incubation time of 15 to 30 minutes will give bright nuclear staining; however, optimization may be needed for some cell types, conditions, and applications. In such cases, simply add more or fewer drops until the optimal staining intensity is obtained. In most cases, staining intensity increases with time if cells are not washed prior to imaging.
• NucGreen Dead 488 dye is excited with a maximum at 504 nm when bound to DNA, with an emission maximum at 523 nm. It is detected through standard GFP and FITC filters.