Mitochondrial Membrane Potential Kit(JC-10 Assay)

JC-10 are cationic dyes that exhibit potential-dependent accumulation in mitochondria, indicated by a fluorescence emission shift from green (~525 nm) to red (~590 nm). Consequently, mitochondrial depolarization is indicated by a decrease in the red/ green fluorescence intensity ratio. The potential-sensitive color shift is due to concentration dependent formation of red fluorescent J-aggregates. JC-10 can be used as an indicator of mitochondrial potential in a variety of cell types, including myo¬cytes 3 and neurons,4 as well as in intact tissues 5 and isolated mitochondria. Use of fluorescence ratio detection therefore allows researchers to make comparative measurements of membrane potential and determine the percentage of mitochondria within a population that respond to an applied stimulus. Subtle heterogeneity in cellular responses can be discerned in this way. The most widely implemented application of JC-10 is for detection of mitochondrial depolarization occurring in the early stages of apoptosis.