Thanks very much for your response. Because I thought the DAPI and Draq7 will compete each other, so I am not sure. Could you please tell me you add the DAPI or the Draq7 first? And between them, do you rinse the cells? Thanks again!
From my experience Draq5 (which is very similar to Draq7) can not be used together with DAPI (it does not matter the order that you will put your dyes in) as DAPI will quench all your signal (I tried even decreasing DAPI concentration to 0.25 ug/ml). However, if you manage to work out which other nuclear dye could be used with draq I would like to know!
Yes. DAPI and DRAQ7 can be combined provided there are sensitive filters to help separate the signals. DAPI is on the blue side while DRAQ7 is on the far red side of he spectrum. Once the resolution of the microscope is good and there are good filters, they can well be combined.
I have added DRAQ5 to fixed cells already stained with Hoechst and I do get staining although I'm not sure specifically whether they're competing for binding sites. It's my impression the DRAQ5 is dimmer on top of Hoechst stained nuclei but I have not directly compared. Imaging of the 2 stains' wavelengths together is certainly possible.
Jayne, you are right that the two stains could be combined based on your perceived variability in their cell colouration, but the issue would be the extent of differential staining achieved by combining the two stains.