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AAT Bioquest

What organelle does DAPI stain?

Posted December 2, 2022


Answer

DAPI stains the nuclear DNA of both living and fixed cells. The stain is used to visualize and quantify the number of nuclei and to assess the gross cell morphology. DAPI provides little to no cytoplasmic labeling. The dye stain allows for multiple uses of cells, removing the need for duplicate samples. On a side note, DAPI-stained cells appear different from DAPI-stained apoptotic cells due to the nuclear changes apoptotic cells go through.  

Additional resources

Labeling nuclear DNA using DAPI

DAPI - Blue Fluorescent DNA Stain

DAPI [4,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole, dihydrochloride] *CAS 28718-90-3*

FluoroQuest™ Mounting Medium with DAPI