This is intended as a guide only - optimization may be needed.
ReZolve-ER™ (Cat. No. 6640) labels the endoplasmic reticulum in live and fixed cells. ReZolve-ER™ passively diffuses across the plasma membrane into the cell, stains at low concentrations and has minimal cytotoxic effects. It displays minimal photobleaching and can be imaging within minutes of addition, making it suitable for use as a real-time imaging reagent. ReZolve-ER™ is easily washed from cells, and therefore is ideal for protocols that require intermittent monitoring of endoplasmic reticulum structures.
ReZolve-ER™ has been successfully imaged using epifluorescent microscopy, confocal microscopy and two-photon microscopy. Cell penetration and localization of ReZolve-ER™ has been confirmed in a range of cell lines, including prostate cells (PNT2, PNT1a, LNCaP, 22RV1 and DU145), cardiomyocytes (H9c2) and neuronal cells (PC-12).
Please read the entire protocol before performing staining procedure for fixed or live cell imaging and consider the safety data sheet. For laboratory use only. Not fully tested. Not for drug, household, human or veterinary uses.
ReZolve-ER™ will perform as specified if stored at room temperature and protected from light. Once reconstituted in DMSO use within 6 months.
Reconstitute the vial containing ~1.8 mg of ReZolve-ER™ with 300 μL of DMSO to obtain a 10 mM stock solution, mix thoroughly before use. This stock solution can be stored at room temperature, protected from light. Note: ReZolve-ER™ should not be reconstituted in aqueous solutions such as phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or cell culture media. For use, dilute ReZolve-ER™ in a buffer or cell culture medium to a concentration of 50 μM-100 μM immediately before use (this solution should not be stored for later use).
For adherent cells, remove the medium from the culture dish and replace it with medium containing 50-100 μM of ReZolve-ER™. The optimal staining concentrations of ReZolve-ER™ may vary between cell lines.
ReZolve-ER™ can be observed in cells within minutes following addition. For the brightest staining allow cells to incubate with ReZolve-ER™ for 15 minutes prior to imaging. Do not wash cells. Maintain ReZolve-ER™ in media for the duration of the imaging protocol.
To remove ReZolve-ER™ from cells, aspirate the ReZolve-ER™ containing media, briefly wash cells with PBS. Replace this with cell culture media that does not contain ReZolve-ER™. Some cells may require several wash steps.
Prior to co-staining experiments, make sure that the spectral profiles of counterstaining agent and ReZolve-ER™ can be appropriately resolved. Stain cells with counter-staining agent according to manufacturer’s instructions. Following washes, add ReZolve-ER™ and stain cells as described above for image.
Unlike the conventional endoplasmic reticulum stains, cells fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde have been successfully stained with ReZolve-ER™. Other fixation methods have not been attempted to date.
Fix samples in 4% paraformaldehyde for 20 minutes at room temperature. Wash samples 3 x 10 minutes in PBS.
Incubate fixed cells with 50-100 μM ReZolve-ER™ prepared in PBS for 15 minutes at room temperature.
Mount coverslips on cells in ReZolve-ER™ solution for imaging.
ReZolve-ER™ can be excited by UV (~ 365 nm) or blue light (405 nm) sources with emissions collected using a wideband pass filter, or narrowband pass filter within this emission range 550-650 nm.
ReZolve-ER™ can be excited by a 400 nm steady state laser, or at 800-830 nm using a two-photon pulse laser. Ideally image with a spectral detector set for the emission of ReZolve-ER™ 500-600 nm (Emax = 570 nm). Note: Time gated imaging can be performed with these products and is ideal for samples with high level of endogenous fluorescence. Probe emission lifetime is ~30 microseconds.