Cresyl violet: a superior fluorescent lysosomal marker.
We have characterized cresyl violet as a membrane-permeant fluorophore that localizes to lysosomes and acidic vacuoles of budding yeast, Drosophila, human, murine and canine cells. An acidotropic weak base, cresyl violet is shown to be virtually insensitive to physiological alkali and divalent cations. Because of its unique spectral properties, it can be used in combination with green, red and far-red fluorophores, is less susceptible to photobleaching than alternative acidotropic probes, and does not undergo photoconversion. At concentrations that yield bright labeling of acidic compartments, cresyl violet does not alter the organellar pH nor does it affect the buffering capacity. Its affordability, together with its chemical and spectral properties, make cresyl violet a superior lysosomal marker devoid of many of the negative characteristics associated with other lysosomal probes.
Program in Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
Philip P
PP
Ostrowski
Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada.
Gregory D
GD
Fairn
Program in Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
Sergio
S
Grinstein
Program in Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
Danielle E
DE
Johnson
D000818:Animals; D048588:Benzoxazines / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D004285:Dogs; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D061985:Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
D048588:Benzoxazines; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; C028911:cresyl violet

LysoTracker
; 
pH
; acidotropic; cresyl violet; lysosome