Overview
This protocol describes a method for quantitative measurement of DNA using propidium iodide (PI) staining and flow cytometry. PI stains all double-stranded regions of both DNA and RNA by intercalating between the stacked bases of the double helix. PI cannot penetrate an intact cell membrane; therefore, cells are fixed prior to staining. The ethanol-fixed cells can be stored unstained at 4°C for days, or even weeks, and then stained and analyzed.
Details
Details of this protocol, Measurement Of DNA Content Using Propidium Iodide (PI) Staining Of Fixed Whole Cells (Subscription Required), are located on a web site other than Biocompare Protocols.