title: Crystal Violet Assay for Determining Viability of Cultured Cells.
abstract: Adherent cells detach from cell culture plates during cell death. This characteristic can be used for the indirect quantification of cell death and to determine differences in proliferation upon stimulation with death-inducing agents. One simple method to detect maintained adherence of cells is the staining of attached cells with crystal violet dye, which binds to proteins and DNA. Cells that undergo cell death lose their adherence and are subsequently lost from the population of cells, reducing the amount of crystal violet staining in a culture. This protocol describes a quick and reliable screening method that is suitable for the examination of the impact of chemotherapeutics or other compounds on cell survival and growth inhibition. However, characterization of the cause of reduced crystal violet staining requires additional methods detailed elsewhere.
authors.affiliation: Section of Molecular Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 68167, Germany;
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feoktistova
authors.affiliation: Section of Molecular Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 68167, Germany;
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Geserick
authors.affiliation: Section of Molecular Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 68167, Germany; Department of Dermatology & Allergology, University Hospital of RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leverkus
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000502:physiology*; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005840:Gentian Violet / Q000378:metabolism*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005840:Gentian Violet