doxorubicin and viability dyes

G.S. Draycott (gsd4@leicester.ac.uk)
Wed, 13 Aug 1997 18:52:12 +0100 (BST)

Hi FLOWers,
Can anyone recommend a viability dye in place of
propidium iodide when using annexin V-FITC to stain for apoptosis. I
am trying to measure apoptosis in adherent breast cancer cells
treated with doxorubicin. My dilemma is: doxorubicin has an
endogeous red fluorescence that overlaps that of PI. In addition, to
top it all PI can't be used on doxorubicin-treated cells as both the
drug and the PI are DNA intercalators, which means that competition
ensues between drug and dye.

Hopefully, without giving the impression of being too picky, I need a
viability dye that will:
(a) not overlap with doxorubicin's endogenous red fluorescence
(b) not employ the mechanism of DNA intercalation so it doesn't
interfere with the cell damaging action of doxorubicin

If anyone can come up with any suggestions it would be greatly
appreciated .

Thanks,
Gwen Draycott