CytoTracer Blue CMAC is a blue fluorescent dye for labeling and long-term tracing of living cells. In working concentrations, the dye has little cytotoxicity and minimal effects on the proliferative ability or biology of the cell. It can be used to analyze cell proliferation, viability, localization, and motility for in vivo and in vitro assays.
CytoTracer Blue CMAC is a cell-permeant stain that converts into cell-impermeant reaction products inside the cell. During proliferation, the label is transferred to daughter cells, but not adjacent cells in the population, and labeled cells keep the fluorescence for at least 72 hours or through three to six cell generations.
CytoTracer Blue CMAC contains a chloromethyl group that reacts with thiol groups of internal cell components, utilizing a glutathione S-transferase-mediated reaction. This allows the stain to remain in cells after fixation and permeabilization steps and be used for subsequent immunofluorescence applications.