What is acridine dye used for?

Acridine orange is used in epifluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. The ability to penetrate the cell membranes of acidic organelles and cationic properties of acridine orange allows the dye to differentiate between various types of cells (i.e., bacterial cells and white blood cells).

Is acridine orange a Fluorochrome?

Acridine orange is a fluorochrome dye that can interchalate into nucleic acid. At a low pH under UV light, bacterial and fungal nucleic acid fluoresces orange whereas background mammalian nucleic acid fluoresces green.

How do you use acridine oranges?

Staining Procedure

  1. Make a 2mg/ml solution of Acridine orange in distilled water and dilute to 1:100 in Buffer II.
  2. Aliquot cells: 105- 106 in 100µl PBS or media .
  3. Add Buffer I (0.5ml) at room temp, agitate to suspend .
  4. Add Buffer II + AO (0.5ml) at room temp, agitate to suspend.
  5. Run on flow cytometer.

Is acridine orange soluble in water?

This product is soluble in water (6 mg/ml), in ethanol (2 mg/ml), and in 2-methoxyethanol (EGME, 4 mg/ml). 1 At 1 mg/mL in water, it forms a clear, dark orange to amber solution. 1. The Sigma-Aldrich Handbook of Stains, Dyes & Indicators, Green, F.J., Ed., Aldrich Chemical Co.

How does acridine orange stain work?

Acridine orange is a cell-permeable, nucleic acid selective dye that emits green fluorescence when bound to dsDNA (at 520 ) and red fluorescence when bound to ssDNA or RNA (at 650 nm). Since it is a cationic dye, it also enters acidic compartments such as lysosomes which in low pH conditions, will emit orange light.

Is acridine orange toxic?

Material may be irritating to the mucous membranes and upper respiratory tract. May be harmful by inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption. May cause eye, skin, or respiratory system irritation.

Are acridine oranges carcinogenic?

Based on the present work, acridine orange is not carcinogenic for mouse skin, is not an initiating agent and is, at best, a borderline carcinogen by subcutaneous injection.