Title: Analyzing Cellular Apoptosis Through Monitoring Mitochondrial Membrane Potential Changes with JC-10
Abstract: Apoptosis is one main type of programmed cell death which involves a series of biochemical events leading to specific cell morphology characteristics and ultimately death of cells. Mitochondrial membrane potential change is a key indicator of cell health and mitochondrial permeability transition is an important step in the induction of cellular apoptosis. JC-10, a lipophilic cationic dye, can be readily used to detect mitochondrial de-polarization. It has been successfully used in several different cell types (e.g., primary rat hepatocytes, CHO-K1, HeLa, Jurkat and HepG2 cell lines). JC-10 has improved water solubility. The consistent results were obtained with flow cytometry, fluorescence plate reader and florescence microscopy. In most of the cell lines JC-10 demonstrates excellent signal to background ratios. In addition, two other membrane potential-sensitive fluorescent dyes, the near infrared red Mito NIR, and orange color Mito Orange have also showed similar results as JC-10 for measuring mitochondria membrane potential changes in Jurkat and Hela cells. In conclusion JC-10, Mito NIR, and Mito Orange are robust tools for evaluating apoptosis targets and screening their agonists and antagonists with fluorescence microplate readers, fluorescence microscopes or flow cytometers.