A Great Membrane Potential Kit for Bacteria

July 03, 2020

Washington University
Molecular Microbiology
Postdoctoral Researcher

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Company:

ThermoFisher Scientific

Product Name:

BacLight™ Bacterial Membrane Potential Kit

Catalog Number:

B34950

I want to look at the difference between WT and mutant strains in bacteria, in the content of membrane potential caused by gene deletion. The mutant I study has observable different phenotype as WT under the microscope, including altered cell shape and membrane structure. Using this dye, I found that the mutant had altered membrane potential resembles CCCP depolarizer-treated WT cells, giving confidence in altered membrane construction.

Experimental Design and Results Summary

Application

Bacterial membrane potential detection.

Starting Material

Bacteria with no interference fluorescence.

Tips

It is a live cell staining process, make sure you work it out fast. And remember to clean the FACS machine really well.

Results Summary

This kit gives a relative membrane potential in bacteria, in such you need to have a WT as a positive control, and CCCp depolarizer-treated cells as a negative control.

DOI or PMID #

N/A

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Summary

The Good

Detailed protocol provided in the kit.

The Bad

Live bacteria staining require a good maintenance of FACS otherwise contamination easily.

The Bottom Line

The kit provides the fluorescent membrane-potential indicator dye, DiOC2(3), along with a proton ionophore (CCCP) and premixed buffer. This kit works perfectly to detect the alternation in bacterial membrane potential.

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