This kit allows fast and easy measurement of both living and dead cells by measuring intracellular esterase activity (live cells) with a red emitting dye while staining of nucleic acids in chromatin (dead cells) with a green emitting dye.

Esterases are a family of catabolic enzymes that cleave esters in a wide range of naturally occuring substrates intracellularly. They are ubiquitous to almost all living organisms. Esterase activity can therefore be used to monitor viability of living cells. This kit uses a fluorogenic substrate that, upon cleavage by intracellular esterases, produces a red fluorescent product that is retained intracellularly. Viability and cell number measurements are easily obtained either in vitro, in cell preparations, or in vivo. This kit also contains a green emitting DNA stain that is membrane impermeant to live cells, but can enter the nucleus of dead cells and stain the chromatin (green fluorescence color). Measurement of green versus red fluorescence gives an accurate measurement of dead versus live cell number (viability). The kit contains enough substrate solutions for hundreds of assays and control experiments, and a detailed protocol for use. See the references below for more information and applications.

This kit is sold by Marker Gene under product code M1813.