DRAQ5™ is a cell permeable far-red fluorescent DNA dye that can be used in fixed or non-fixed/ live cells in combination with common labels such as GFP or FITC.

As with any cell­-permeant DNA intercalating probe, DRAQ5 may inhibit cell division in long-term assays and should be tested for any effect.

DRAQ5 staining can be used in flow cytometry, live cell imaging and cell-based assays and the dye is highly compatible with standard protocols across many instrumentation platforms.

The chemical name of DRAQ5 is 1, 5-bis{[2-(di-methylamino)ethyl]amino}-4, 8-dihydroxyanthracene-9, 10-dione.

The advantages of DRAQ5 staining include
- convenient ready-to-use aqueous solution
- rapid uptake into living cells, providing a high level of nuclear discrimination
- no photobleaching effect
- can be used in most cell types, eukaryotic and prokaryotic: mammalian, bacterial, parasitic, plant, etc.
- no compensation needed with common FITC/GFP + PE combinations in flow cytometry
- no RNase treatment required
- no fluorescence enhancement upon DNA binding
- compatible with optics of benchtop flow, laser scanning cytometers and non-UV laser scanning and lamp-based confocal microscopes

SPECTRAL PROPERTIES:

Excitation

• 647 nm line optimal (Ex_max 646 nm)
• 488, 514, 568 and 633 nm lines, sub-optimal
• Two-photon excitation (1047 nm) and excitation dark (700-850 nm)

Emission (instrument dependent):
- 665 nm to infra-red max 681 nm / 697 nm intercalated with dsDNA)
- minimal overlap with vis range e.g. GFP and FITC
- Em. filters may include 695L, 715LP or 780 LP

Concentration: 5 mM