Image of HCS CellMask™ Stains packaging

Nuclear stain for HCA/HCS cell demarcation

Useful as cell delineation reagents for HCS platforms, HCS CellMask Stains label the entire cell (i.e., cytoplasm and the nucleus) to provide a description of a cell’s anatomy, and provide an accurate backdrop against which the features of interest can be assessed. HCS CellMask stains are available in a range of fluorescent colors, they can be applied to cells immediately after fixation or in the last step of multiplexing protocols, and they are compatible with detergent-based permeabilization. This protocol produces sufficient stain for one 96-well plate at a staining volume of 100 μL/well.

This protocol can be used for:

  • Nuclear and cytosolic demarcation in high-content analysis/screening (HCA/HCS)

This protocol should not be used for:

  • Flow cytometry

You will need the following for this protocol:

  • Cells growing in culture
  • HCS CellMask Stains (H32712, H32713, H32714, H32720, H32721)
  • Flat-bottom 96-well microplates
  • Paraformaldehyde, 16% aqueous solution
  • Triton X-100
  • Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)
  • HCA instrument or fluorescence microscope

Protocol

Preparing solutions

1. Add 25 μL DMSO (Component B) to the entire contents of the HCS CellMask Stain (Component A) to make a 10 mg/ mL stock solution.
2. On the day of the assay, prepare a fixative solution by adding 2.5 mL 16% aqueous paraformaldehyde (PFA) to 7.5 mL PBS, to obtain a 4% PFA solution.
3. On the day of the assay, prepare a permeabilization solution by adding 10 μL Triton X-100 to 10 mL PBS.
4. On the day of the assay, prepare a staining solution by adding 2 μL of the HCS CellMask Stain stock solution to 10 mL PBS.

Preparing solutions

1. Culture cells in an appropriate medium and vessel for HCA or fluorescence microscopy.
2. Optional: Add a test compound or drug to the cells, and incubate as desired.
3. Remove the medium.
4. Add 100 μL fixative solution (4% PFA) to each well.
5. Incubate for 15 minutes.
6. Remove the fixative.
7. Wash the cells 2–3 times in PBS.
8. Add 100 μL permeabilization solution (Triton X-100) to each well.
9. Incubate for 15 minutes.
10. Remove the permeabilization solution.
11. Wash the cells 2–3 times in PBS.
12. Optional: Perform antibody labeling.
13. Add 100 μL staining solution (2 µg/mL HCS CellMask Stain) to each well.
14. Incubate for 30 minutes, protected from light.
15. Wash the cells 2–3 times in PBS.
16. Image the cells. 

 

 

Protocol tips

  • Warm to room temperature and briefly centrifuge the DMSO solution to the bottom of the vial each time before use.
  • Apply CellMask stains to cells immediately after fixation and permeabilization or after antibody labeling.
  • Treat all nucleic acid binding dyes as potential mutagens and handled with care.
  • Handle DMSO with care.

Cells stained with HCS CellMask™ Blue Stain
Cells stained with HCS CellMask Blue Stain. Alexa Fluor 488 Click-iT Plus EdU, and Alexa Fluor 647 goat anti–mouse IgG and imaged with the Thermo Scientific CellInsight High-Content System.

Spectral information and storage
 HCS CellMask BlueHCS CellMask GreenHCS CellMask OrangeHCS CellMask RedHCS CellMask Deep Red
Excitation/Emission (nm)346/442493/516556/572588/612650/655
Standard filter setDAPIFITCCy®3Cy®3.5Cy®5
EVOS Light CubeDAPIGFPRFPTexas RedCy®5
Storage conditions≤–20°C≤–20°C≤–20°C≤–20°C≤–20°C