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