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Star Republic: Guide for Biologists

Visualization of DNA (DAPI)

1. DAPI is frequently used for staining nuclei.

2. Wash and harvest cells.

3. Fix cells. For example, mammalian cells can be fixed in 4% PBS buffered paraformaldehyde. Yeast cells may be fixed in 70% ethanol (and sonicate for 5 seconds).

4. Wash cells with PBS.

5. Stain cells in 0.1-1 mg/ml of DAPI in PBS for 20 minutes to 2 hours.

6. Wash cells with PBS.

7. Mount, seal with nail polish and keep in dark before viewing under a fluorescence microscope.