Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Structure

Use CellLight® reagents when you want to label the ER in live cells to follow the dynamics of cellular behavior. CellLight® proteins can be multiplexed with other fluorescent probes for analysis in live cells or after fixation for colocalization studies. These ready-to-use constructs express fluorescent proteins with ER-retention signals from calreticulin (1.8 kDa, N-term), a resident protein of the ER lumen, and KDEL (0.5 kDa, C-term). Introducing CellLight® reagents involves a simple transfection step, and they work like cell stains with minimal toxicity or chemical disruption.

• Select CellLight® GFP and RFP reagents

ER-Tracker™ dyes are cell-permeant live-cell stains that are highly selective for the ER. When cells are stained using the protocol provided, the staining pattern is partially retained after fixation with formaldehyde. The respective BODIPY® dyes are targeted using glibenclamide, which binds to the sulfonylurea receptors of ATP-sensitive K+ channels that are prominent on ER. Note: The pharmacological activity of glibenclamide could potentially affect ER function.

• Select ER-Tracker™ dyes

The ER can be labeled in fixed cells using fluorescent conjugates of lectins such as concanavalin A, or antibodies directed against ER-associated proteins such as disulfide isomerase (PDI). We offer concanavalin A conjugated to Alexa Fluor® 594, and an ER-labeling kit with an anti-PDI primary and Alexa Fluor® 488–labeled secondary antibody. The SelectFX® kit also provides cell fixative and permeabilization reagents.

• Select conjugates for fixed cells