Propidium iodide
Propidium iodide (CAS 25535-16-4), commonly abbreviated as PI, is a fluorescent nucleic acid intercalating dye widely employed in biomedical research. Structurally analogous to ethidium bromide, PI intercalates into double-stranded DNA molecules without sequence specificity, binding approximately one dye per 4–5 base pairs. Due to membrane impermeability, PI selectively enters cells only when plasma membrane integrity is compromised, as occurs during cell death or late apoptosis. Upon DNA binding, its fluorescence notably increases, facilitating detection via fluorescence microscopy, spectrometry, or flow cytometry. PI is routinely utilized for distinguishing necrotic or late apoptotic cells in viability assays, apoptosis studies (often paired with Annexin V), and cell cycle analyses.
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Physical Appearance | A crystalline solid |
Storage | Store at -20°C |
M.Wt | 668.39 |
Cas No. | 25535-16-4 |
Formula | C27H34I2N4 |
Solubility | insoluble in H2O; insoluble in EtOH; ≥9.84 mg/mL in DMSO |
Chemical Name | 3,8-diamino-5-(3-(diethyl(methyl)ammonio)propyl)-6-phenylphenanthridin-5-ium iodide |
SDF | Download SDF |
Canonical SMILES | NC1=CC2=[N+](C(C3=CC=CC=C3)=C(C=C4N)C(C=C4)=C2C=C1)CCC[N+](CC)(C)CC.[I-].[I-] |
Shipping Condition | Small Molecules with Blue Ice, Modified Nucleotides with Dry Ice. |
General tips | We do not recommend long-term storage for the solution, please use it up soon. |
Quality Control & MSDS
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Chemical structure
