For a final staining solution, we can add TMRM directly into cell growth medium. Can this media contain serum?
Yes, you may add TMRM to media with serum. Serum components may bind dye non-specifically so you may need a higher final working concentration for staining samples in media containing serum relative to staining the same cells in a non-serum media or buffer.
TMRM is a dynamic mitochondrial stain. There is no covalent attachment of TMRM to the mitochondria and because of this, it can move in and out of the mitochondria dependent upon changes in the membrane potential. The MitoTracker dyes on the other hand possess a reactive chloromethyl group that allows for their covalent attachment to mitochondria. As a result, once they accumulate within mitochondria that have a normal membrane potential, they are retained.
What is included in the Image-iT TMRM Reagent (Cat No. I34361)?
The Image-iT TMRM Reagent is a ready-to-use 1,000X concentrated stock solution of the TMRM dye. It contains 5 vials of 100 µM of TMRM in neat DMSO, with 100 µL volume in each vial. TMRM powder (Cat No. T668) is not included in this kit.