DAPI

DAPI
Names
IUPAC name
2-(4-Amidinophenyl)-1H-indole-6-carboxamidine
Other names
4′,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C16H15N5/c17-15(18)10-3-1-9(2-4-10)13-7-11-5-6-12(16(19)20)8-14(11)21-13/h1-8,21H,(H3,17,18)(H3,19,20) checkY
    Key: FWBHETKCLVMNFS-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C16H15N5/c17-15(18)10-3-1-9(2-4-10)13-7-11-5-6-12(16(19)20)8-14(11)21-13/h1-8,21H,(H3,17,18)(H3,19,20)
    Key: FWBHETKCLVMNFS-UHFFFAOYAH
  • [N@H]=C(N)c3ccc(c2cc1ccc(cc1[nH]2)C(=[N@H])N)cc3
  • [H]/N=C(/c1ccc(cc1)c2cc3ccc(cc3[nH]2)/C(=N/[H])/N)\N
Properties
C16H15N5
Molar mass 277.331 g·mol−1
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
checkY verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

DAPI (pronounced 'DAPPY', /ˈdæpiː/), or 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, is a fluorescent stain that binds strongly to adeninethymine-rich regions in DNA. It is used extensively in fluorescence microscopy. As DAPI can pass through an intact cell membrane, it can be used to stain both live and fixed cells, though it passes through the membrane less efficiently in live cells and therefore provides a marker for membrane viability.