Propidium iodide (PI) is a widely used red-fluorescent intercalating agent that binds and labels nucleic acids.
Propidium iodide is membrane impermeant and is therefore frequently used to selectively identify dead cells and is commonly used in flow cytometry to evaluate cell viability.
Propidium iodide (PI) is often used in flow cytometry, fluorescent microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy applications.
Frequently used with Oxazole Yellow (YP1) when staining for apoptotic and necrotic cells as apoptotic cells remain impermeant to propidium iodide but permeable to Oxazole Yellow (YP1).
Once bound to the nucleic acids, its fluorescence is enhanced 20- to 30-fold. Wavelength Maxima: Excitation ~535nm, Emission ~617nm
#Protocol 1: Propidium Iodide counterstaining of HEK293T cells
HEK293T cells were cultured on coverslips in 10% FBS in DMEM and fixed with 4% PFA. Immunocytochemistry was performed following our ICC protocol using an anti-vimentin monoclonal antibody at 1µg/ml.
Prodidium iodide working solution was prepared consisting of 1µg/ml Propidium Iodide and 10µg/ml RNase A and incubated with cells for 30 minutes at room temperature.
Following washing with PBS, coverslips were mounted and imaged using a confocal microscope using either a 532nm or 514nm laser for excitation
Solubility & Handling
Storage instructions
+4°C
Solubility overview
Soluble in water (5 mM)
Important
This product is for RESEARCH USE ONLY and is not intended for therapeutic or diagnostic use. Not for human or veterinary use.
![Propidium Iodide [25535-16-4] Chemical Structure](https://hellobio.com/media/catalog/product//h/b/hb0820.png "Propidium Iodide [25535-16-4]")
Understanding purity and quality - a guide for life scientists
