A redox-sensitive fluorescent probe
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5-Cyano-2,3-di-(p-tolyl)tetrazolium (chloride)

Item No. 15926

Product Insert (PDF)Safety Data Sheet (SDS) (PDF)
Technical Information
Formal Name
5-cyano-2,3-bis(4-methylphenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, monochloride
CAS Number
90217-02-0
Synonyms
  • CTC
  • Cyanotolyl Tetrazolium Chloride
Molecular Formula
C16H14N5 • Cl
Formula Weight
311.8
Emission
590 nm
Excitation
510-560 nm
Formulation (Request formulation change)
A crystalline solid
Solubility(Learn about Variance in Solubility)
DMF: 0.1 mg/mlDMSO: 0.25 mg/mlEthanol: 1 mg/mlPBS (pH 7.2): 1 mg/ml
λmax
299 nm
SMILES
CC(C=C1)=CC=C1N2N=C(C#N)N=[N+]2C3=CC=C(C)C=C3.[Cl-]
InChi Code
InChI=1S/C16H14N5.ClH/c1-12-3-7-14(8-4-12)20-18-16(11-17)19-21(20)15-9-5-13(2)6-10-15;/h3-10H,1-2H3;1H/q+1;/p-1
InChi Key
SSJZAXOTLCJNLF-UHFFFAOYSA-M
Shipping & Storage Information
Storage
-20°C
Shipping
Room temperature in continental US; may vary elsewhere
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    10 mg

    $36

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    25 mg

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    50 mg

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    100 mg

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    Product Description

    5-Cyano-2,3-di-(p-tolyl)tetrazolium (chloride) is a redox-sensitive tetrazolium salt used primarily to detect metabolic activity in microorganisms.1,2,3 This membrane-permeable indicator is readily taken up by living cells and reduced by respiratory activity to produce a red fluorescent, water-insoluble formazan crystal (absorption maximum at 450 nm).3,4 While the oxidized salt is non-fluorescent, the reduced formazan can be evaluated using a standard rhodamine filter set (excitation: 510-560 nm; emission > 590 nm), although optimum excitation requires a blue 420 nm excitation filter.1,2 For flow cytometry, a 480 nm excitation laser combined with detection in the red region is suitable.

    WARNING This product is not for human or veterinary use.

    References & Product Citations
    Product Description References

    1. Rodriguez, G.G., Phipps, D., Ishiguro, K., et al. Use of a fluorescent redox probe for direct visualization of actively respiring bacteria. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 58(6), 1801-1808 (1992).

    2. Caruso, G., Mancuso, M., and Crisafi, E. Combined fluorescent antibody assay and viability staining for the assessment of the physiological states of Escherichia coli in seawaters. J. Appl. Microbiol. 95(2), 225-233 (2003).

    3. Sieracki, M.E., Cucci, T.L., and Nicinski, J. Flow cytometric analysis of 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl tetrazolium chloride activity of marine bacterioplankton in dilution cultures. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65(6), 2409-2417 (1999).

    4. Bhupathiraju, V.K., Hernandez, M., Landfear, D., et al. Application of a tetrazolium dye as an indicator of viability in anaerobic bacteria. J. Microbiol. Methods 37(3), 231-243 (1999).