| The use of tetrazolium salts,
including XTT (2,3-Bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-
sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide), to assay cell
proliferation, cell viability, and/or cytotoxicity is a widespread,
established practice. The procedures avoid radioactivity, allow for
rapid determination in microplates, and give reproducible and sensitive
results.
Cleavage of the tetrazolium salt to formazan occurs via the
succinatetetrazolium reductase system in the mitochondria of
metabolically active cells. The reaction is attributed mainly to
mitochondrial enzymes and electron carriers, but a number of other
non-mitochondrial enzymes have been implicated.
XTT, a yellow tetrazolium salt, is cleaved to a soluble orange
formazan dye, which can be measured by absorbance at 490 (or 450) nm in
a microplate reader. Efficient reduction of XTT requires an electron
coupling reagent. This kit includes both XTT and the electron coupling
reagent for a convenient and simple assay. |
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