1,1',3,3,3',3'-hexamethylindocarbocyanine iodide

Description

1,1',3,3,3',3'-hexamethylindocarbocyanine iodide, also known as **DiIC1(5)** or **DiIC18(3)**, is a **fluorescent dye** that is widely used in research.

Here's why it's important:

* **Membrane Staining:** DiIC1(5) is a **lipophilic dye**, meaning it readily dissolves in lipid environments. This makes it particularly useful for staining **cell membranes**, both in living and fixed cells. It inserts itself into the lipid bilayer and fluoresces, allowing researchers to visualize membrane structures and dynamics.

* **Membrane Potential Sensing:** DiIC1(5) is also sensitive to changes in **membrane potential**. As the membrane potential changes, the fluorescence intensity of DiIC1(5) alters, making it a valuable tool for studying **electrical activity** in cells and tissues.

* **Labeling and Tracking:** DiIC1(5) can be used to label various biological structures, including:
* **Lipid droplets:** It accumulates in these structures, revealing their distribution and dynamics.
* **Myelin:** In the nervous system, DiIC1(5) stains myelin sheaths, allowing for visualization and analysis of myelin integrity.
* **Liposomes:** This dye can be incorporated into liposomes, which are artificial membrane vesicles used in drug delivery and other research applications.

* **Applications in Different Fields:** DiIC1(5) has applications in various fields, including:
* **Neuroscience:** Studying neuronal membrane properties, myelin integrity, and neural activity.
* **Cell Biology:** Examining membrane dynamics, lipid droplet formation, and cell growth and differentiation.
* **Biophysics:** Investigating the properties of lipid bilayers and membrane transport.

**Advantages of using DiIC1(5):**

* **Bright fluorescence:** DiIC1(5) exhibits strong fluorescence, making it easy to visualize and quantify.
* **Long excitation and emission wavelengths:** This makes it less susceptible to autofluorescence from biological samples.
* **Good photostability:** DiIC1(5) maintains its fluorescence for a considerable duration, allowing for extended imaging experiments.

**Limitations:**

* **Potential toxicity:** DiIC1(5), like many dyes, can have some toxicity, especially at high concentrations.
* **Limited specificity:** While DiIC1(5) primarily targets membranes, it can also interact with other cellular components, leading to non-specific staining.

Overall, DiIC1(5) is a versatile and powerful tool for researchers studying a wide range of biological processes. Its ability to label membranes, sense membrane potential, and track cellular structures makes it invaluable for understanding cell function and dynamics.

1,1',3,3,3',3'-hexamethylindocarbocyanine: fluorescent probe [Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), National Library of Medicine, extracted Dec-2023]