Application

The cyanine dye JC-1 has been used to determine mitochondrial transmembrane potential.

A dual-emission potential-sensitive probe that can be used to measure mitochondrial membrane potential. JC-1 is a green-fluorescent (λ_ex 520 nm) monomer at low membrane potential. At higher potentials, JC-1 forms red-fluorescent (λ_em 596 nm ) "J-aggregates," which exhibit broad excitation and very narrow emission spectra. The ratio of red to green fluorescence of JC-1 is dependent only on membrane potential, and not influenced by mitochondrial size, shape, or density.