PKH2 cell membrane labeling kit

Product Information

Product Parameter

Product Description

PKH2 is a new lipophilic fluorescent dye that is widely used for evaluating cell migration or proliferation. The lipophilic groups of PKH allow rapid and non-covalent incorporation into cell membranes of almost any cells without the influence on cell receptors or transmembrane proteins. 

PKH2 is a green fluorescent dye with an excitation maximum at 490 nm and an emission maximum at 504 nm. It can be used with other dyes in multicolor assays. 

PKH2 is less stable than PKH26. Its half-life period in vivo is only 5~8 days, thus the labeled cells can be studied by microscopy or flow cytometry within 10-11 days after staining.

Once the PKH2 is incorporated in the lipid bilayer of plasmic membranes, the fluorescent signals can be evenly distributed among daughter cells and their signals decrease linearly with the extent of cell division.

PKH2 is less toxic to cells, has a low fluorescence background, and does not stain neighboring cells, so it is widely used for cell tracing in vitro and in vivo. PKH26-labeled cells have good morphology and stable fluorescence expression, which can effectively observe the situation of cells in vitro. 

Components in the kit

Notes

• The working solution of PKH2 should be freshly made. To guarantee the efficiency of the working solution, it is not recommended to store it for overnight.

• Any metabolic toxicants or azides should be carefully removed from the reaction system before staring the staining process.

• Though PKH2 working solution can be applied directly onto adherent cells, it is still recommended to resuspend the adherent cells before staring the staining process. Staining with the single-cell suspension normally proves a better result.

• Serum or lipids can inhibit the labeling of PKH2, so they need to be removed from the cell suspension before staring the staining process.

• The existence of physiological salts may cause the precipitation of PKH2, so they need to be removed from the cell suspension before staring the staining process.

• The overload of PKH2 labeling may damage the integrity of the cell membrane and finally lead to cell death. The ratio of dye/cell recommended in this kit can be applied on most cell lines, but the optimized ratio may be various based on different cell types or research purposes.

• The maximum tracking periods of different cell types may be different.