What does calcein AM stain?

Posted July 22, 2020

Answer

Calcein AM is an excellent tool for distinguishing live and dead cells, as well as for cell viability measurement. The protection of carboxylic acid groups by the hydrophobic AM (acetomethoxy) groups makes this dye readily enter viable cell. Once inside, the AM groups are removed by the intracellular esterases, trapping the calcein within the cell and giving out strong green fluorescence. Since dead cells lack esterase activity, only live cells are stained and detected.

Additional resources

Calcein, AM *UltraPure grade* *CAS 148504-34-1*

Live or Dead™ Cell Viability Assay Kit *Green/Red Dual Fluorescence*

Cell Meter™ Cell Viability Assay Kit *Blue Fluorescence*

Riss, T. L., Moravec, R. A., Niles, A. L., Duellman, S., Benink, H. A., Worzella, T. J., & Minor, L. (2016). Cell viability assays. In Assay Guidance Manual [Internet]. Eli Lilly & Company and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.

Stoddart, M. J. (2011). Cell viability assays: introduction. In Mammalian cell viability (pp. 1-6). Humana Press.