Live/Dead Cell Staining Kits

Applications

• Monitoring of viable and dead cells
• Cell counting by fluorescence microscopy

Benefits

• Simultaneous monitoring of viable and dead cells
• High fluorescence intensity
• Fast and convenient procedure
• Excitation and emission spectra are compatible with common excitation sources and filter sets

The Live/Dead Cell Staining Kit I utilizes two fluorescent dyes, Calcein-AM and Propidium Iodide. Calcein-AM penetrates the cell membrane of living cells. Once inside, the cellular esterases present in living cells hydrolyze it to cell membrane-impermeable, green-fluorescent Calcein (emission maximum at 515 nm). In contrast, Propidium Iodide (PI) can only pass through the disrupted membrane areas of dead cells where it intercalates with the DNA of the nucleus, emitting red light at 617 nm. Since both Calcein and Propidium Iodide can be excited at 490 nm, a simultaneous monitoring of viable and dead cells is possible using a fluorescence microscope. At an excitation of 545 nm, the number of dead cells can be monitored.

The Live/Dead Cell Staining Kit II also utilizes two fluorescent dyes, Calcein-AM and Ethidium homodimer III (EthD-III). As Propidium Iodide, EthD-III can only pass through the disrupted membrane areas of dead cells where it intercalates with the DNA of the nucleus, emitting red light at 620 nm. Compared with PI, EthD-III is more stable and emits brighter fluorescent signals. Since both Calcein and EthD-III can be excited at 490 nm, a simultaneous monitoring of viable and dead cells is possible as well using a fluorescence microscope. At an excitation of 545 nm, the number of dead cells can be monitored. 

The Bacteria Live/Dead Staining Kit enables a two-color fluorescent staining on both live bacteria (green) and dead bacteria (red) using the two nucleic acid dyes DMAO and EtD-III. DMAO is a green-fluorescent  dye which stains both live and dead bacteria with intact and damaged cell membranes while the red-fluorescing EtD-III only stains dead bacteria with damaged cell membranes. The kit  is applicable to most bacteria types and suitable for use with fluorescence microscopes and flow cytometers.