SYTOX Green

Definition

SYTOX Green is a high-affinity nucleic acid stain used to identify dead cells by binding to DNA. It selectively penetrates cells with compromised plasma membranes, making it useful in viability assays.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. SYTOX Green only stains cells with damaged membranes, indicating cell death.
2. It emits bright green fluorescence when bound to nucleic acids, allowing for easy visualization under a microscope.
3. The dye is impermeant to live cells, ensuring specificity for dead cell identification.
4. SYTOX Green can be excited using blue light (488 nm) and has an emission maximum at 523 nm.
5. It is commonly used in conjunction with other fluorescent dyes for multi-parameter analysis in flow cytometry and microscopy.

Related terms

Propidium Iodide: A red-fluorescent nuclear stain that also binds to DNA of dead or membrane-compromised cells.

DAPI: A blue-fluorescent stain that binds strongly to A-T rich regions in DNA and is used for staining both live and fixed cells.

Fluorescence Microscopy:

A technique using fluorescence instead of, or in addition to, reflection and absorption to study properties of organic or inorganic substances.