A red-shifted fluorescent substrate for aldehyde dehydrogenase

Nat Commun. 2014 Apr 23:5:3662. doi: 10.1038/ncomms4662.

Abstract

Selection of cells positive for aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity from a green-fluorescent background is difficult with existing reagents. Here we report a red-shifted fluorescent substrate for ALDH, AldeRed 588-A, for labelling viable ALDH(pos) cells. We demonstrate that AldeRed 588-A successfully isolates ALDH(hi) human haematopoietic stem cells from heterogeneous cord blood mononuclear cells. AldeRed 588-A can be used for multicolour applications to fractionate ALDH(pos) cells in the presence of green fluorophores including the ALDEFLUOR reagent and cells expressing enhanced green-fluorescent protein (eGFP). AldeRed 588-A stains ALDH(pos) murine pancreatic centroacinar and terminal duct cells, as visualized using fluorescent microscopy. AldeRed588-A provides a useful tool to select stem cells or study ALDH within a green-fluorescent background.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aldehyde Dehydrogenase / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Coloring Agents / metabolism*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / metabolism*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Mice

Substances

  • Coloring Agents
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • enhanced green fluorescent protein
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Aldehyde Dehydrogenase