MitoLite™ dyes are a series of cell-permeable cationic dyes used to label mitochondria in living 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.

Cell Navigator® Mitochondrion Staining Kits combine the enhanced staining efficiency of MitoLite™ reagents with an optimized staining protocol to rapidly label mitochondria in living cells. Each kit supplies sufficient materials for performing 500 assays. Cell Navigator® Mitochondrion Staining Kits can be readily adapted for various fluorescence platforms such as microplate assays, immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry. They are effective in a variety of studies, including cell adhesion, chemotaxis, multidrug resistance, cell viability, apoptosis and cytotoxicity.

Need assistance selecting the best fluorophore for your experiment, use our Fluorescence Spectrum Viewer: