Description
JC1 Mitochondrial Membrane Potential Assay Kit contains tetraethylbenzimidazolylcarbocyanine iodide (JC1), a cationic dye that accumulates in polarised mitochondria. At low concentrations (due to low mitochondrial membrane potential) JC1 is predominantly a monomer that emits green fluorescence with an emission wavelength of 530 ± 15 nm. At high concentrations (due to high mitochondrial membrane potential) the dye aggregates, emitting a red-orange colour (emission wavelength of 590 ± 17.5 nm). Therefore a decrease in the aggregate fluorescent count is indicative of depolarisation whereas an increase is indicative of hyperpolarisation. The ratio of red to green fluorescence of JC1 is dependent only on membrane potential, and not influenced by mitochondrial size, shape, or density