MitoDNA(TM) Red 680

There are limited probes available that effectively detect mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (mtDNA). Common fluorescent DNA probes, such as DAPI, Hoechst, or SYBR(R) Green, lack the specificity required for mitochondrial targeting, primarily staining nuclear DNA. MitoDNA(TM) Red 680 is a cell-permeable dye that specifically stains mtDNA in live cells, offering an efficient method for the dynamic imaging of mtDNA. This dye exhibits a large Stokes shift, providing an excellent signal-to-noise ratio and enabling easy multiplex staining with other fluorescent probes. mtDNA is a small, circular DNA molecule located within mitochondria in the cytoplasm. It is supplementary to nuclear DNA and encodes 37 genes essential for mitochondrial and cellular functions. Mitochondria are responsible for ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation and contain the genetic information for synthesizing key enzymes, transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Mutations and disorders in mtDNA can lead to a range of health issues, including age-related hearing loss, diabetes, and failures in the brain, heart, and liver. Additionally, mtDNA mutations are associated with an increased risk of various cancers, including lymphomas, leukemias, and tumors in the breast, intestines, liver, and kidneys.