DAPI dilactate | CAS 28718-91-4

DAPI dilactate is a DNA-binding fluorescent dye widely used as a nucleic acid stain in fluorescence microscopy and cytometry workflows. As a cell-permeant, doubly protonated form, it is commonly employed to visualize nuclear DNA and to support quantitative fluorescence readouts of nucleic acid content. Its strong fluorescence upon binding to DNA makes it a practical reagent for imaging, sample QC, and nucleic-acid-focused assays.

1. Nuclear DNA Staining

DAPI dilactate is frequently used by cell biology and microscopy laboratories to stain nuclei for fluorescence imaging and to define nuclear morphology in fixed-cell experiments. Researchers use it to generate high-contrast nuclear signals that facilitate segmentation of nuclei, assessment of cell cycle-related changes in nuclear DNA content, and co-localization studies with other fluorescent markers. Because DAPI fluorescence is driven by DNA binding, it is commonly paired with DNA-targeted imaging panels in multi-channel microscopy for robust nuclear reference staining.

2. Flow Cytometry DNA Content Analysis

DAPI dilactate is also employed in flow cytometry workflows where DNA content and cell-cycle distributions are quantified by fluorescence intensity. In these applications, the dye is used to label cellular DNA after sample preparation, enabling gating strategies based on relative DNA staining intensity. Many flow cytometry users incorporate DAPI dilactate as a DNA reference stain alongside other fluorescent reporters to support population-level analysis of proliferative states and to normalize fluorescence readouts across experimental batches.

3. Fluorescence Microscopy Co-Localization

DAPI dilactate is commonly used as a DNA counterstain in fluorescence microscopy experiments that investigate subcellular structures or biomolecular localization. Imaging teams use it to provide a stable nuclear reference channel when studying processes such as transcription factor localization, chromatin-associated marker distribution, or nuclear-cytoplasmic translocation of fluorescent fusion proteins. In multiplex imaging, DAPI dilactate helps align biological interpretation across channels by anchoring the analysis to nuclear DNA landmarks.

4. Nucleic Acid Quantification Assays

DAPI dilactate is used in nucleic-acid-focused assay development and analytical workflows where fluorescence intensity is correlated with nucleic acid abundance. Researchers in molecular biology and assay development use it for plate-based staining and comparative measurements of DNA-containing samples, including evaluation of nucleic acid recovery across preparation methods. This application leverages the dye's DNA-binding fluorescence response to support routine quantification and normalization steps in experimental pipelines.