Invitrogen™ CellMask™ Plasma Membrane Stains

Product Code.	Color	unitSize
10734084	Deep Red	Each
15594394	Green	100µL
10093243	Orange	Each
17817388	Near-infrared	100µL

Product Code. 10734084 Supplier Invitrogen™ Supplier No. C10046

Description

Invitrogen CellMask™ plasma membrane stains enable fast and uniform labeling of the plasma membrane in almost all cell types. These stains work rapidly and can be detected using standard microscope filter sets with any imaging instrument.

Invitrogen CellMask™ plasma membrane stains enable fast and uniform labeling of the plasma membrane in almost all cell types. These stains works rapidly and can be detected using standard microscope filter sets with any imaging instrument. Depending upon the cell type and experimental conditions, the plasma membrane staining will last for 60–90 minutes without detectable internalization, providing enough time for most live cell dynamic studies. The stain survives fixation, but not permeabilization.

Invitrogen CellMask™ plasma membrane stains enable fast and uniform labeling of the plasma membrane in almost all cell types. These stains works rapidly and can be detected using standard microscope filter sets with any imaging instrument. Depending upon the cell type and experimental conditions, the plasma membrane staining will last for 60–90 minutes without detectable internalization, providing enough time for most live cell dynamic studies. The stain survives fixation, but not permeabilization.

Features of CellMask™ plasma membrane stains include:
• Sensitivity—specific and rapid plasma membrane staining
• Excellent retention—staining lasts for 60–90 minutes
• Available in most common microscope channels, green, orange, deep red, and near infrared

Drawbacks of other methods
The plasma membrane is a convenient marker of cell boundaries and as such, a number of probes have been used for staining of the membrane. Typically, dyes of a lipophilic nature are used; however, they internalize rapidly, offering a very narrow window for imaging. Fluorescently labeled lectins, such as wheat germ agglutinin, have also been employed as plasma membrane stains. Conjugated lectins depend on cell surface sugars for staining and as a result, stain inconsistently with variation across cell types. Robust plasma membrane staining is important for a range of applications including translocation assays, plasma membrane dynamics, and as a general tool for cell identification in traditional and automated imaging and analysis.

How CellMask™ plasma membrane stains work
CellMask™ plasma membrane stains are designed to deliver uniform staining of the plasma membrane across a wide variety of mammalian cell types and are slow to internalize, particularly compared to traditional approaches such as DiI, DiO, and labeled wheat germ agglutinin.

CellMask™ plasma membrane stains are amphipathic molecules containing a lipophilic moiety for excellent membrane loading and a negatively charged hydrophilic dye for anchoring of the probe in the plasma membrane. While CellMask™ plasma membrane stains provide ample opportunity for live cell imaging, the staining pattern is also maintained after fixation with formaldehyde, enabling additional multiparametric imaging options. However, staining with CellMask™ plasma membrane stains does not survive detergent extraction and, therefore, cannot be used in conjunction with probes that require permeabilization.

Specifications

• Color: Deep Red
• Concentration: 5 mg/mL
• Content And Storage: Store in freezer (–5° to –30°C) and protect from light.
• For Use With (Equipment): High Content Instrument
• Quantity: 100 μL
• Volume (Metric): 100 μL
• Detection Method: Fluorescence
• Description: CellMask™ Deep Red Plasma Membrane Stain
• Product Line: CellMask
• Shipping Condition: Room Temperature
• Label Type: Fluorescent Dye
• Product Type: Plasma Membrane Stain
• SubCellular Localization: Plasma Membrane

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I'm labeling live cells with Vybrant DiI or DiD lipophilic cyanine dyes. DiI gives a nice even membrane labeling, but DiD is more "spotty". What can be done?

This is expected. DiD (which is far-red fluorescent) is never as uniform as DiI (which is orange fluorescent). If uniformity is desired, try increasing the label time and concentration, but it still isn't likely to be as uniform as DiI. CellMask Deep Red Plasma Membrane stain is much more uniform and is about the same wavelength as DiD. However, if you intend to do cell tracking over days, CellMask stain has not been tried for that application.

Can I use CellMask Plasma membrane stains or Alexa Fluor dye labeled wheat germ agglutinin to label the plasma membrane of my paraffin sections?

No. For paraffin sections, there are few options due to the delipidation of the membranes by solvents used in the deparaffinization steps. The only good option is to use an antibody against a plasma membrane protein.

How long does the staining last with CellMask Plasma Membrane Stains?

Depending upon the cell type and experimental conditions, the plasma membrane staining will last for 60-90 min without detectable internalization, providing enough time for most live cell dynamic studies. The stain survives fixation, but not permeabilization.

What dyes are used to make the CellMask stains?

The proprietary fluorescent dyes in the CellMask stains are general cytoplasmic stains. They are not found to bind to any specific cellular component.

I want to label the plasma membrane of my cells, but there are several dyes to choose from. Which one should I use?

For live-cell imaging, the CellVue and CellMask Plasma Membrane Stains are the most uniform and the slowest to be endocytosed. However, they are not the best choice if you wish to fix and permeabilize your cells, such as for antibody labeling. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) conjugates are also able to label live cells, or can label already formaldehyde-fixed cells. They can survive subsequent permeabilization with detergents, such as Triton X-100. If cells are already permeabilized, WGA will label internal structures as well. Thus, only an antibody against a plasma membrane protein can be used if cells are already permeabilized. Lipophilic cyanine dyes, such as DiI, will label all cell membranes in live cells, not just plasma membranes, if left on live cells for extended periods. Following page will help you choose (http://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/cell-analysis/cell-structure/plasma-membrane.html).