Cell Structure

Schematic of a whole cell with the various cell structures labeled

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Organelle structures play a critical role in cellular function, and the detection of specific cell structures is key in fluorescence imaging of cells and tissue. Cell structure labels can be a counterstain method to identify the location of specific proteins and targets of interest within the cell. Our cell labels include cell structure specific dyes or antibodies for live-cell or fixed-cell imaging, as well as for flow cytometry.

Cell structure protocols

Cytoskeleton Structure

Actin, tubulin, and talin stains and fluorescent proteins for use in live or fixed cells.
Learn about phalloidin staining

Endoplasmic Reticulum Structure

Cell-permeant or fluorescent fusion proteins that bind the ER in live cells.

Endosome Structure

Fluorescent fusion proteins that target early or late endosomes in live cells.

Golgi Apparatus Structure

Cell labels that target Golgi lipids or fluorescent proteins that target a Golgi enzyme in live cells.

Lysosome Structure

Live cell markers to target and track acidic organelles or fluorescent proteins that bind the lysosome membrane.

Mitochondria Structure

Cell labels based on mitochondria membrane potential or fluorescent proteins for use in live cells.

Nucleus Structure

Cell-permeant and cell-impermeant stains for the nucleus, nuclear components, and nucleolus.

Peroxisome Structure

Fluorescent proteins for live cells or antibodies for staining peroxisomes in fixed cells.

Plasma Membrane Structure

WGA conjugates, cell membrane stains, and fluorescent fusion proteins for staining cell membranes.

Fluorescent conjugates for lectin labeling

Microscopic image of cells stained with green lectin spermatozoa, red actin, blue nuclei

Thermo Fisher Scientific offers an extensive portfolio of highly purified and specific fluorescently conjugated lectins. These lectins come in a variety of dyes including bright Alexa Fluor Dyes, Dylight Dyes, and other classic dyes, to provide bright and sharp images of cells for specific glycoprotein detection. Fluorescent conjugation allows you to easily localize and detect cell-surface or intracellular glycoproteins, making them a versatile primary detection approach for imaging or flow cytometry applications.

Learn more about lectins

CellLight fluorescent protein labeling

Microscopic image of cells labeled with green mitochondria fusion protein, red talin cytoskeletal fusion protein, and blue nucleus stain

CellLight fusion proteins provide an easy way to label specific structures in live cells with fluorescent proteins. Simply add the reagent to your cells, incubate overnight, and you’re ready to image in the morning. These ready-to-use constructs express fluorescent fusion proteins targeted to specific intracellular structures. The fluorescent protein is introduced using a simple transfection step that doesn’t require molecular biology techniques to carry out—it works like a cell stain.

Learn more about CellLight proteins