Fluorescence Lifetime-Based Discrimination and Quantification of Cellular DNA and RNA with Phase-Sensitive Flow Cytometry

50Citations
Citations of this article
24Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

Background: Simultaneous measurement of cellular DNA and RNA content provides information for determination of the functional status of cells and, clinically, for the diagnosis and grading assessment of various tumors. Most current flow cytometric methods are based on resolving the fluorescence emission spectra of dyes that bind preferentially to either type of nucleic acid. However, several monochromatic nucleic acid-binding fluorochromes display resolvable differences in fluorescence lifetime when bound to DNA or RNA. The differences in the lifetime of one fluorescent probe provide an alternate means to distinguish the binding of one probe to these cellular macromolecules and to simultaneously measure their cellular contents. Methods: Three nucleic acid intercalating dyes, propidium iodide, ethidium bromide, and ethidium homodimer 1, were selected to study differences in fluorescence lifetimes when bound to cellular DNA and RNA. Fixed HL-60 cells were treated with specific nucleases to initially determine the lifetime values of each dye when bound to the cellular DNA, RNA, or both. The lifetime values were then used as the signatures to resolve the cellular DNA and RNA contents in untreated cells. Results: All three dyes showed fluorescence lifetime differences when bound to RNase-treated, DNase-treated, or untreated cells. With these lifetime values, the fluorescence emissions from DNA, RNA, or DNA/RNA were resolved from untreated cells with the use of phase-sensitive detection. The lifetime differences resulting from the binding to either type of nucleic acid depended on the dye, the staining concentration, and the analysis condition. Conclusions: The lifetimes of the nucleic acid-binding fluorochromes were altered when binding to different macromolecules under different conditions. Phase-sensitive flow cytometry provided a unique means for simultaneous discrimination and quantification of subcellular macromolecules with one fluorescent probe. The data demonstrated the capabilities for resolving relative cellular DNA and RNA contents based on fluorescence lifetime.

References Powered by Scopus

Mechanism of Ethidium Bromide Fluorescence Enhancement on Binding to Nucleic Acids

516Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

New cell cycle compartments identified by multiparameter flow cytometry

293Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Flow cytometric estimation of DNA and RNA content in intact cells stained with hoechst 33342 and pyronin Y

221Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Cited by Powered by Scopus

Fluorescence lifetime measurements and biological imaging

1920Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Tunable lifetime multiplexing using luminescent nanocrystals

693Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Handbook of Biological Dyes and Stains: Synthesisand Industrial Applications

279Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Cui, H. H., Valdez, J. G., Steinkamp, J. A., & Crissman, H. A. (2003). Fluorescence Lifetime-Based Discrimination and Quantification of Cellular DNA and RNA with Phase-Sensitive Flow Cytometry. Cytometry Part A, 52(1), 46–55. https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.a.10022

Readers over time

‘11‘12‘13‘14‘15‘16‘17‘18‘19‘20‘21‘22‘2402468

Readers' Seniority

Tooltip

PhD / Post grad / Masters / Doc 13

72%

Researcher 4

22%

Lecturer / Post doc 1

6%

Readers' Discipline

Tooltip

Agricultural and Biological Sciences 7

44%

Chemistry 3

19%

Engineering 3

19%

Medicine and Dentistry 3

19%

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free
0