What are the main characteristics of a Click-iT reaction?
Click reactions have several general characteristics: the reaction is efficient, no extreme temperatures or solvents are required, the reaction is complete within 30 minutes, the components of the reaction are bio-inert, and perhaps most importantly, no side reactions occur-the label and detection tags react selectively and specifically with one another. This final point is a key advantage of this powerful detection technique; it is possible to apply click chemistry-labeled molecules to complex biological samples and detect them with unprecedented sensitivity due to the extremely low background of the reaction.
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Analysis Support Center.
I will be performing a cell proliferation assay using Click-iT EdU kit. At what point can I stop overnight, or do I have to perform all the steps continuously?
One may store the sample after fixation overnight in PBS at 4oC. For longer storage (<1 week) , store in buffer with 1-2% formaldehyde or in formalin to limit microbial growth. If you use sodium azide as a microbial inhibitor, it must be completely removed prior to the Click-iT reaction.
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Viability, Proliferation, Cryopreservation, and Apoptosis Support Center.
A control for a Click-iT EdU labeling experiment uses no EdU and the Click-iT reaction using Alexa Fluor 594 azide. The mouse heart tissue sections are showing non-specific labeling in red, seen in particular clusters of cells. They don't overlap with DAPI. What is the problem?
The problem is likely not the Alexa Fluor 594 azide. Since there are no alkynes endogenous to mouse tissue, there is nothing for the dye-azide to bind to. Since the background doesn't overlap with nuclei (DAPI signal), this isn't an issue of unintended EdU labeling. This red is autofluorescence from red blood cells; they autofluoresce in the red and don't have nuclei. This can be confirmed by checking a completely unlabeled tissue section (no dye present at all) to see if they are still present and by examining the cells at high magnification and looking for corpuscular shape.
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Can I combine Click-iT or Click-iT Plus reactions with phalloidin conjugates used for actin staining?
We do not recommend using phalloidin conjugates for staining actin in combination with traditional Click-iT or Click-iT Plus reactions since phalloidin is extremely sensitive to the presence of copper.
For staining actin in combination with traditional Click-iT or Click-iT Plus reactions, we recommend using anti-α-actin antibodies for staining actin in the cytoskeleton. You can find a list of our actin antibodies here.
Another option would be to use the Click-iT Plus Alexa Fluor Picolyl Azide Toolkit (Cat. Nos. C10641, C10642, C10643). These Click-iT Plus toolkits provide Copper and Copper protectant separately which makes it easier to titrate the copper concentration to obtain optimal labeling with minimal copper-mediated damage. You may need to optimize the click reaction with the lowest possible concentration of copper and then perform the phalloidin staining.
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Are the Alexa Fluor azides from Click-iT EdU kits available separately?
Yes, but the standalone products are not shipped at the same amount as provided in the Click-iT EdU kits; the amount of dye-azide provided in the Click-iT kits is proprietary information. See these catalog numbers for the standalone products:
- Cat. No. A10266: Alexa Fluor 488 azide
- Cat. No. A10270: Alexa Fluor 594 azide
- Cat. No. A10277: Alexa Fluor 647 azide
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Analysis Support Center.