Propidium iodide is a fluorescent intercalating agent that can be used to stain cells and nucleic acids. PI binds to DNA by intercalating between the bases with little or no sequence preference. When in an aqueous solution, PI has a fluorescent excitation maximum of 493 nm, and an emission maximum of 636 nm.

What does propidium iodide measure?

Propidium iodide is used as a DNA stain in flow cytometry to evaluate cell viability or DNA content in cell cycle analysis, or in microscopy to visualize the nucleus and other DNA-containing organelles.

What is propidium iodide assay?

Propidium Iodide (PI) is a red-fluorescent nuclear and chromosomal stain that only enters dead cells. Upon entry, the PI stain binds to DNA by intercalation, resulting in a red fluorescing dead cell. ... The PI Assay and the PI app on CellDrop™ Series instruments enable rapid automated cell counting for cell suspensions.