JC-1 (chloride salt)

JC-1 (5,5',6,6'-Tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzimidazolylcarbocyanine chloride) is a mitochondrial dye that stains mitochondria in living cells in a membrane potential-dependent fashion.JC-1 monomer is in equilibrium with so-called J-aggregates, which are favored at higher dye concentration or higher mitochondrial membrane potential. The monomer JC-1 has green fluorescence (λ _Em = 527 nm),while the J-aggregates have red fluorescence (λ _Em = 590nm). Therefore, it is possible to use the fluorescence ratio technique to study mitochondrial membrane potentials. JC-1 is particularly useful for apoptosis studies. In apoptotic cells, the dye stays in the cytoplasm and fluoresces green. It has also been used in high throughput drug screening applications.

While the original salt form of the dye is JC-1 iodide salt (70011), Biotium developed JC-1 chloride salt for applications where iodide ions are not desired. Biotium also offers Aquaphile™ JC-1, an improved and more soluble formulation of the JC-1 dye which minimizes false positive J-aggregate signal outside of cells.

• λ_Ex/λ_Em 510/527 nm (monomer); 585/590 nm (aggregate)
• ε (MeOH) = 190,000
• Red solid soluble in DMSO
• Store at 4°C and protect from light, especially in solution
• C₂₅H₂₇Cl₅N₄
• MW: 561.5