DRAQ5™

Description: DRAQ5™ is an anthraquinone dye with high affinity for double-stranded DNA. It is a membrane-permeable dye that can label live or fixed/dead cells. In flow cytometry, this dye can be used to distinguish nucleated and non-nucleated cells. DRAQ5™ can also be used to report nuclear DNA content for ploidy and cell cycle analysis because it binds DNA stoichiometrically. In fluorescent microscopy, it can be used as a nuclear counterstain.

DRAQ5™ can be excited by wavelengths from 488 to 647 nm. For microscopy/imaging, 633 or 647 nm sources for excitation are recommended. For flow cytometry, with excitation at 488 nm, this dye can be detected with filter sets designed for PerCP-eFluor® 710 or PerCP-Cy5.5 (685LP dichroic mirror and 710/50 band pass); with excitation at 633 nm, it can be detected with filter sets designed for APC (660/20 band pass). For cell cycle/DNA analysis applications, a higher wavelength filter is recommended, such as a 710LP or a filter set designed for PE-Cy7 (735LP dichroic mirror and 780/60 band pass), to optimize the CV for the G1 and G2/M peaks. Please make sure that your instrument is capable of detecting this dye.

Because of its broad excitation and emission properties, DRAQ5™ is not recommended in combination with other far-red fluorochromes excited by the 488 or 633 nm laser lines, including PE-Cy7, PerCP-eFluor® 710, PerCP-Cy5.5, APC, Alexa Fluor® 647, Alexa Fluor® 700, APC-eFluor® 780 and equivalents (APC-Alexa Fluor® 750 and APC-Cy7).

References: Björnsson S, Wahlström S, Norström E, Bernevi I, O'Neill U, Johansson E, Runström H, Simonsson P. Total nucleated cell differential for blood and bone marrow using a single tube in a five-color flow cytometer. Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2008 Mar;74(2):91-103.

Smith PJ, Wiltshire M, Errington RJ. DRAQ5 labeling of nuclear DNA in live and fixed cells. Curr Protoc Cytom. 2004 May;Chapter 7:Unit 7.25.

Plander M, Brockhoff G, Barlage S, Schwarz S, Rothe G, Knuechel R. Optimization of three- and four-color multiparameter DNA analysis in lymphoma specimens. Cytometry A. 2003 Jul;54(1):66-74.

Smith PJ, Blunt N, Wiltshire M, Hoy T, Teesdale-Spittle P, Craven MR, Watson JV, Amos WB, Errington RJ, Patterson LH. Characteristics of a novel deep red/infrared fluorescent cell-permeant DNA probe, DRAQ5, in intact human cells analyzed by flow cytometry, confocal and multiphoton microscopy. Cytometry. 2000 Aug 1;40(4):280-91.