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AAT Bioquest

Mitochondria

Mitochondria are a distinctive, membrane-bound organelle present within all eukaryotic cells. As the primary site of ATP production and cellular energy supply, the unique aspects of mitochondria (including separate genetic material termed mDNA, it's own protein synthesizing machinery, and a strictly-regulated membrane potential charge gradient) make it an important subject of study. Additionally, as more aspects of the aging process and other human diseases are being discovered, the role of mitochondria has been shown to be even more prominent than previously suspected.

AAT Bioquest offers a wide range of imaging technologies for investigating mitochondrial morphology and functionality in live and fixed cells. The selective labeling of live cell compartments provides a powerful method for examining cellular events in a spatial and temporal context.

 

 

MitoLite™ Dyes for Live Cell Mitochondrial Imaging


MitoLite™ dyes are a series of cell-permeable cationic dyes used to label mitochondria in live cells. At micromolar concentrations (μM), MitoLite™ dyes passively diffuse across live cell membranes and selectively accumulate in active mitochondria via the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) gradient. Since staining is lost during cell death due to the collapse (depolarization) of the mitochondrial membrane potential, MitoLite™ dyes can also be used to monitor cell viability. MitoLite™ dyes are available in spectral characteristics ranging from blue to near-infrared to accommodate multiplexing with other fluorescent probes or after fixation for co-localization studies. Retention after fixation varies amongst MitoLite™ dyes, with dyes such as MitoLite™ Blue FX490 being well-retained and MitoLite™ Green FM being lost after fixation. MitoLite™ dyes are key components of Cell Navigator™ Mitochondrion Staining Kits made available separately here. Each kit provides sufficient materials for 500 tests.

Features of MitoLite™ probes:

  • Selectively accumulates in active mitochondria via the ΔΨm gradient
  • Exceptionally bright fluorescence with high signal-to-noise ratios
  • Photostable signal generation for extended imaging windows
  • Can be imaged without washing
  • Multiple wavelength options for multiplex analysis with other fluorescent probes
  • Suitable for both proliferating and non-proliferating cells, as well as, cell in suspension and adherent cells

MitoLite™ Blue FX490
(Cat No. 22674)

MitoLite™ Blue FX490 stain
MitoLite™ Green FM
(Cat No. 22695)

MitoLite™ Green FM
MitoLite™ NIR FX690
(Cat No. 22690)

MitoLite™ NIR FX690

Mitolite

 

Table 1. Available MitoLite™ dyes for labeling mitochondria in live cells.

Product name
Sample Type
Fixable
Ex (nm)
Em (nm)
Filter Set
Unit Size
Cat No.
Assay Kit No.
MitoLite™ Blue FX490Live CellsYes344469DAPI500 Tests2267422665
MitoLite™ Green FMLive CellsNo508528FITC10x50 µg22695-
MitoLite™ Green EX488Live CellsNo508528FITC500 Tests2267522666
MitoLite™ Orange EX405Live CellsNo425522FITC500 Tests2267922673
MitoLite™ Orange FX570Live CellsYes553576TRITC500 Tests2267622667
MitoLite™ Red FX600Live CellsYes580598TRITC500 Tests22677-
MitoLite™ Red CMXRosLive CellsYes579599TRITC10x50 µg2269822668
MitoLite™ Deep Red FX660Live CellsYes640659Cy5500 Tests2267822669
MitoLite™ NIR FX690Live CellsYes658691Cy5500 Tests2269022670


CytoFix™ Red Fixable Mitochondrial Stain


The enhanced cellular retention of CytoFix™ Red mitochondrial stain preserves its mitochondrial localized fluorescence even after the mitochondrial membrane potential is lost during fixation. The fluorescence signal generated by this dye is well-retained in the lyososme making it convenient for long-term mitochondrial tracking. CytoFix™ Red mitochondrial stain can be used with other fluorescent conjugates and other organelle stains for multicolor analysis. It can be used for both suspension and adherent cells and readily adapted for a wide variety of fluorescence platforms.

CytoFix™ Red

The fluorescence images of HeLa cells stained with CytoFix™ MitoRed in a 96-well black-wall clear-bottom plate. Image was acquired before (Left) and after (Right) fixation with 4% formaldehyde solution for 20 minutes at RT. The cells were imaged using fluorescence microscope with a Cy3/TRITC filter.


Features of CytoFix™ Red mitochondrial stain:

  • High mitochondrial staining efficiency
  • Long retention after fixation
  • Labeling protocol with minimal hands on time
 

Table 2. CytoFix™ Red fixable mitochondrial stain

Product name
Sample Type
Fixable
Ex (nm)
Em (nm)
Filter Set
Unit Size
Cat No.
CytoFix™ Red Mitochondrial StainLive CellsYes540590Cy3/TRITC500 Tests23200

 

Mitochondrial Membrane Potential Probes


The mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), generated by the electron transport chain, is a key parameter necessary for healthy mitochondrial functioning. Together with the proton gradient, it generates the driving force behind mitochondrial ATP synthesis. It plays a key role in mitochondrial homeostasis through selective elimination of dysfunctional mitochondria, and is an essential component of mitochondrial calcium homeostasis.

A distinctive feature of the early stages of apoptosis is the disruption of normal mitochondrial function. A collapse in mitochondrial membrane and redox potential may induce unwanted loss of cell viability and be a cause of various pathologies. We offer a wide assortment of fluorescent probes for analyzing aspects of normal mitochondrial activity in live cells, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial membrane potential and calcium flux.

JC-10™ Dual-Emission ΔΨm Probe


JC10 vs JC1
Camptothecin induced mitochondrial membrane potential changes were measured with JC-10™ (Cat No. 22204) and JC-1 (Cat No. 22200) in Jurkat cells. After Jurkat cells were treated with camptothecin (10 μM) for 4 hours, JC-1 and JC-10™ dye loading solutions were added to the wells and incubated for 30 minutes. The fluorescent intensities for both J-aggregates and monomeric forms of JC-1 and JC-10™ were measured at Ex/Em = 490/525 nm and 540/590 nm with NOVOstar microplate reader (BMG Labtech).
JC-10™, a derivative of JC-1, is potential-dependent probe used to determine ΔΨm by flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy and in microplate-based fluorescent assays. In healthy cells, JC-10™ selectively accumulates in mitochondria generating orange J-aggregates that exhibit a broad excitation spectrum and emission maximum at 590 nm. However, in apoptotic and necrotic cells with low ΔΨm, JC-10™ diffuses out of the mitochondria and JC-10™ monomers are generated, resulting in a shift to green emission (525 nm). JC-10™ allows both qualitative and quantitative visualization of ΔΨm changes, considering the shift from orange to green fluorescence emission and the fluorescence intensity ratio, respectively.

Features of JC-10™:

  • Easy-to-Use: JC-10™ does not percipitate when diluted into aqueous buffers, eliminating artifacts.
  • Robust: JC-10™ has smaller assay deviations due to its enhanced solubility in aqueous media and higher sensitivity.
  • Enhanced Signal: JC-10™ has a higher signal-to-background ratio than JC-1.
  • Enhanced Sensitivity: JC-10™ has the ability to detect subtle changes in ΔΨm loss better than JC-1 in all tested cell lines.
  • Broad Applications: JC-10™ can be used for primary rat hepatocytes.
  • Convenient: JC-10™ is compatible with fluorescence microplate readers, cell imagers and flow cytometers.
 

Table 3. JC-10™ and JC-1 dual-emission mitochondrial membrane potential probes.

Probe
Ex/Em
Ex/Em
Filter Set
Unit Size
Cat No.
JC-10™ *Superior alternative to JC-1*508/524
(monomer)
508/570
(aggregate)
FITC (monomer)
TRITC (aggregate)
5x100 µL22204
JC-1515/530
(monomer)
515/590
(aggregate)
FITC (monomer)
TRITC (aggregate)
5 mg22200
JC-1515/530
(monomer)
515/590
(aggregate)
FITC (monomer)
TRITC (aggregate)
50 mg22201

Table 4. Cell Meter™ JC-10™ assay kits for measuring mitochondrial membrane potential.

Probe
Instrument
Ex (nm)
Em (nm)
Cutoff/Channel
Unit Size
Cat No.
Cell Meter™ JC-10 Mitochondrion Membrane Potential Assay Kit *Optimized for Microplate Assays*Microplate Reader490/540 nm525/590 nm515/570 nm500 tests22800
Cell Meter™ JC-10 Mitochondrion Membrane Potential Assay Kit *Optimized for Flow Cytometry Assays*Flow Cytometer488 nm laser530/30
575/26
FITC Channel
PE Channel
100 tests22801


Mitochondrial-Selective Rhodamine Esters


Cell-permeable cationic rhodamines, such TMRE and TMRM, are readily sequestered by active mitochondria, and commonly used to label mitochondria in living cells. Like JC-10™, TMRE and TMRM uptake in mitochondria is driven by the mitochondrial membrane potential. Both dyes have been successfully for dymanic and in situ quantitative measurements, to screen for inhibitors of the mitochondrial transition pore, to assess the functionality of mitochondria in living cells, and can be used to discrimate between viable and non-viable cell populations. These potentiometric dyes exhibit minimal self-quenching, low cytotoxicity and have reasonable photostability, and their fluorescence intensities can be measured with either a flow cytometer or fluorescence microscope. In comparison to TMRM, TMRE is slightly more hydrophobic.
 

Table 5. Potentiometric dyes for measuring mitochondrial membrane potential.

Probe
Ex (nm)
Em (nm)
Filter Set
Unit Size
Cat No.
TMRE [Tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester] *CAS#: 115532-52-0*552574TRITC25 mg22220
TMRM [Tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester] *CAS#: 115532-50-8*552574TRITC25 mg22221

 

Product ordering information


 

Table 6. Ordering Info for Mitochondrial Products

Cat#
Product Name
Unit Size
67Rhodamine 700 *CAS 63561-42-2*25 mg
68Rhodamine 800 *CAS 137993-41-0*25 mg
22205Nonyl acridine orange *CAS 75168-11-5*25 mg
22210Rhodamine 123 *CAS 62669-70-9*25 mg
22211Rhodamine B, hexyl ester, perchlorate10 mg
22220TMRE [Tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester] *CAS#: 115532-52-0*25 mg
22221TMRM [Tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester] *CAS#: 115532-50-8*25 mg
22225DASPEI [2-(4-(dimethylamino)styryl)-N-ethylpyridinium iodide] *CAS#: 3785-01-1*100 mg
22630Cell Navigator® Live Cell RNA Imaging Kit *Green Fluorescence*100 Tests
22634Cell Navigator® Live Cell Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Staining Kit *Blue Fluorescence*100 Tests
22635Cell Navigator® Live Cell Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Staining Kit *Green Fluorescence*100 Tests
22636Cell Navigator® Live Cell Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Staining Kit *Red Fluorescence*100 Tests
22651Cell Navigator® Lysosome Staining Kit *Green Fluorescence with 405 nm Excitation*500 Tests
22652Cell Navigator® Lysosome Staining Kit *NIR Fluorescence*500 Tests
22655Cell Navigator® Lysosome Staining Kit *Blue Fluorescence*500 Tests
22656Cell Navigator® Lysosome Staining Kit *Green Fluorescence*500 Tests
22657Cell Navigator® Lysosome Staining Kit *Orange Fluorescence*500 Tests
22658Cell Navigator® Lysosome Staining Kit *Red Fluorescence*500 Tests
22659Cell Navigator® Lysosome Staining Kit *Deep Red Fluorescence*500 Tests
22660Cell Navigator® F-Actin Labeling Kit *Blue Fluorescence*500 Tests
22661Cell Navigator® F-Actin Labeling Kit *Green Fluorescence*500 Tests
22663Cell Navigator® F-Actin Labeling Kit *Orange Fluorescence*500 Tests
22664Cell Navigator® F-Actin Labeling Kit *Red Fluorescence*500 Tests
22665Cell Navigator® Mitochondrion Staining Kit *Blue Fluorescence*500 Assays
22666Cell Navigator® Mitochondrion Staining Kit *Green Fluorescence*500 Assays
22667Cell Navigator® Mitochondrion Staining Kit *Orange Fluorescence*500 Assays
22668Cell Navigator® Mitochondrion Staining Kit *Red Fluorescence*500 Assays
22669Cell Navigator® Mitochondrion Staining Kit *Deep Red Fluorescence*500 Assays
22670Cell Navigator® Mitochondrion Staining Kit *NIR Fluorescence*500 Assays
22673Cell Navigator® Mitochondrion Staining Kit *Orange Fluorescence with 405 nm Excitation*500 Assays
22674MitoLite™ Blue FX490500 Tests
22675MitoLite™ Green EX488500 Tests
22676MitoLite™ Orange FX570500 Tests
22677MitoLite™ Red FX600500 Tests
22678MitoLite™ Deep Red FX660500 Tests
22679MitoLite™ Orange EX405500 Tests
22680Cell Navigator® Cell Plasma Membrane Staining Kit *Orange Fluorescence*500 Tests
22681Cell Navigator® Cell Plasma Membrane Staining Kit *Red Fluorescence*500 Tests
22682Cell Navigator® Cell Plasma Membrane Staining Kit *Green Fluorescence*500 Tests
22690MitoLite™ NIR FX690500 Tests
22695MitoLite™ Green FM10x50 ug
22698MitoLite™ Red CMXRos10x50 ug
22730Cell Navigator® Fluorimetric Lipid Droplet Assay Kit *Green Fluorescence*200 Tests
22735Cell Navigator® Fluorimetric Lipid Droplet Assay Kit *Red Fluorescence*500 Tests
22750Cell Navigator® NBD Ceramide Golgi Staining Kit *Green Fluorescence*100 Tests
23170Cell Navigator® Live Cell Tubulin Staining Kit100 Slides
23171Cell Navigator® Live Cell Tubulin Staining Kit300 Slides