title: Neutral red fluorescence of chromatin: specificity and binding mechanism.
abstract: After treatment with neutral red at low concentrations (10(-6), 10(-5) M), the chromatin of chicken erythrocytes shows an intensive red fluorescence, which is reduced or practically abolished when nuclei become stained by using the dye at concentrations higher than 10(-4) M. Both the fluorescence and staining reactions are dependent on the DNA content of chromatin. Neutral red fluorescence of nuclei increases considerably after treatment with inorganic cations (Al3+, Ba2+), while previous treatments with methylene blue reduce the fluorescence intensity. The possibility that chromatin fluorescence depends on the intercalative binding of neutral red is suggested.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000032:analysis; D002645:Chickens; D002843:Chromatin / Q000032:analysis*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin