Annexin V, PacBlue conjugate

Annexins are a family of proteins that bind to phospholipid membranes in the presence of calcium. Annexin V is a valuable tool for studying cell apoptosis. It is used as a probe to detect cells which have expressed phosphatidylserine on the cell surface, a feature found in apoptosis as well as other forms of cell death. In apoptosis, PS is transferred to the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane. The appearance of phosphatidylserine on the cell surface is a universal indicator of the initial/intermediate stages of cell apoptosis and can be detected before morphological changes can be observed. There are a variety of parameters that can be used for monitoring cell viability. Annexin V-dye conjugates are widely used to monitor cell apoptosis through measuring the translocation of phosphatidylserine (PS). The annexin V, PacBlue conjugate is violet excitable, making it ideal for instruments with a violet laser and for multicolor experiments that include green- or red-fluorescent dyes.