Thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide [MTT]

Yellow powder. Soluble in water (5mg/ml). Chemical. CAS: 298-93-1. Formula: C18H16BrN5S. MW: 414.32. MTT is a common histochemical/cytochemical reagent and for the detection of NAD. MTT is used to detect reductive metabolism in cells. It is a cell-permeable yellow dye that is reduced by intracellular NAD(P)H-oxidoreductases in mitochondria of living cells to form the dark blue water-insoluble MTT-formazan. The intensity of the color can then be measured spectrophotometrically at 540 or 570nm, which allows quantitation of cell viability and cell proliferation. It is frequently used in colorimetric assays to measure cell proliferation/cell growth, cytotoxicity (such as for screening cancer drugs), and apoptosis.