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Nucleolus Red™ DCS1 *Dead Cell Staining*
Product key features
- Selective Nucleolar RNA Staining – Binds nucleolar RNA with strong red fluorescence while exhibiting minimal DNA fluorescence.
- Optimized for Fixed and Permeabilized Cells – Ideal for dead cell staining and fixed-cell imaging.
- High-Contrast Nucleolar Visualization – Enables precise detection of nucleoli, facilitating research on nucleolar organization, function, and morphology.
- Compatible with Multi-Color Staining – Can be used in combination with nuclear stains such as DAPI or Nuclear Green™ DCS1 for enhanced cellular context.
Product description
Nucleolus Red™ DCS1 is a cell-impermeant fluorescent dye that selectively binds to RNA within the nucleolus, a non-membrane-bound nuclear compartment responsible for ribosomal RNA (rRNA) transcription and processing. Upon binding to RNA, the dye exhibits strong red fluorescence, whereas its interaction with DNA results in only weak fluorescence, providing exceptional specificity for nucleolar RNA detection.
This dye is particularly useful for studying nucleolar morphology and function in dead or permeabilized cells. It enables clear visualization of nucleoli and can be used in conjunction with nuclear counterstains such as DAPI or Nuclear Green™ DCS1 to provide additional structural context. The nucleolus plays a critical role in cellular processes, including ribosome biogenesis, DNA damage response, autophagy, viral pathogenesis, and cellular senescence. Morphological changes in the nucleolus have also been implicated as potential biomarkers for cancer diagnostics. Nucleolus Red™ DCS1 is compatible with fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, and high-content imaging assays, making it a valuable tool for researchers investigating nucleolar dynamics and cellular homeostasis in various biological and disease contexts.
Example protocol
AT A GLANCE
Prepare cells in a growth medium.
Incubate the cells with the Nucleolus Red™ DCS1 working solution at 37°C for 15–30 minutes.
Observe under a fluorescence microscope using a Cy5 filter set.
CELL PREPARATION
- Plate cells overnight in growth medium at 10,000–40,000 cells per well in 90 μL for a 96-well plate or 2,500–10,000 cells per well in 20 μL for a 384-well plate.
Centrifuge cells from the culture medium to pellet, then resuspend in fresh culture medium.
Seed 50,000–100,000 cells/well in 90 µL for a 96-well poly-D-lysine plate or 10,000–25,000 cells/well in 20 µL for a 384-well poly-Dlysine plate.
Before the experiment, centrifuge the plate at 800 rpm for 2 minutes with the brake off.
Note: The optimal cell density should be determined individually for each cell line.
PREPARATION OF WORKING SOLUTION
Add 10 µL of Nucleolus Red™ DCS1 stock solution to 1 mL of HHBS buffer (AAT Bio Cat no. 20011) and mix thoroughly. The working solution remains stable at room temperature for up to 2 hours.
Note: 100 µL of Nucleolus Red™ DCS1 stock solution is sufficient for one 96-well plate. Any unused stock solution can be aliquoted and stored at ≤ -20°C for several months, provided the tubes are tightly sealed and protected from light. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles to maintain stability.
SAMPLE EXPERIMENTAL PROTOCOL
Treat the samples as needed. Then, remove the cell culture medium and wash the cells with DPBS or a buffer of your choice.
Fix the cells by treating them with 4% formaldehyde at room temperature for 20 minutes.
Discard the formaldehyde and wash the cells twice with DPBS or a buffer of your choice.
Add 100 µL per well for a 96-well plate or 50 µL per well for a 384-well plate of Nucleolus Red™ DCS1 working solution to the cell plate. Incubate at 37°C for 15–30 minutes, keeping the plate protected from light.
Note: The optimal concentration of Nucleolus Red™ DCS1 depends on the specific application. Using a concentration higher than the recommended working solution may be toxic to cells. Staining conditions can be adjusted based on the cell type and its permeability to the probe.
Remove the working solution from each well. Wash the cells three times with DPBS or a buffer of your choice. Then, add 100 µL per well for a 96-well plate or 50 µL per well for a 384-well plate to cover the cells.
Use a fluorescence microscope with a Cy5 filter set to observe the fluorescence signal in the cells.
Spectrum
Product family
| Name | Excitation (nm) | Emission (nm) |
| Nucleolus Blue™ DCS1 *Dead Cell Staining* | 445 | 470 |
References
Authors: Ma, Jiansheng and Meng, Qingda and Chen, Fangshu and Wei, Jiang
Journal: Case reports in pathology (2025): 2100330
Authors: Suljević, Damir and Fočak, Muhamed and Škrijelj, Rifat and Mitrašinović-Brulić, Maja
Journal: Cell biochemistry and function (2024): e4015
Authors: Deng, Tao and Shao, Jinjin and Xie, Zhongguo and Wang, Qiling and Huang, Xinxin and Zhou, Zhichao and Guo, Jialiang and Li, Lei and Liu, Fang
Journal: Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy (2024): 124434
Authors: Troussard, Xavier
Journal: Expert review of hematology (2024): 907-915
Authors: Canini, Davide and Martini, Flavio and Cazzaniga, Stefano and Miotti, Tea and Pacenza, Beatrice and D'Adamo, Sarah and Ballottari, Matteo
Journal: Microbial cell factories (2024): 322
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