Flow Cytometry, Methanol Permeabilization Protocol for Rat
Antibodies
A. Solutions and Reagents
All reagents required for this protocol may be efficiently purchased together in our Intracellular Flow
Cytometry Kit (Methanol) #13593, or
individually using the catalog numbers listed below.
NOTE: Prepare solutions with reverse osmosis deionized (RODI) or equivalent grade water.
1X Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS): To prepare 1 L 1X PBS: add 100 ml 10X PBS (#12528) to 900 ml water mix.
4% Formaldehyde, Methanol-Free (#47746)
100% Methanol (#13604): Chill before use
Antibody Dilution Buffer: Purchase ready-to-use Flow Cytometry Antibody Dilution Buffer (#13616), or prepare a 0.5% BSA PBS buffer by
dissolving 0.5 g Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) (
Recommended Anti-Rat secondary antibodies::
Anti-Rat IgG (H+L), F(ab')2 Fragment (Alexa Fluor® 647 Conjugate) #4418
NOTE: When including fluorescent cellular dyes in your experiment (including viability dyes, DNA dyes, etc.), please refer to the dye product page for the recommended protocol. Visit www.cellsignal.com for a full listing of cellular dyes validated for use in flow cytometry.
B. Fixation
NOTE: Adherent cells or tissue should be dissociated and in single-cell suspension prior to fixation.
NOTE: Optimal centrifugation conditions will vary depending upon cell type and reagent volume. Generally, 150-300g for 1-5 minutes will be sufficient to pellet the cells.
NOTE: If using whole blood, lyse red blood cells and wash by centrifugation prior to fixation.
NOTE: Antibodies targeting CD markers or other extracellular proteins may be added prior to fixation if the epitope is disrupted by formaldehyde and/or methanol. The antibodies will remain bound to the target of interest during the fixation and permeabilization process. However, note that some fluorophores (including PE and APC) are damaged by methanol and thus should not be added prior to permeabilization. Conduct a small-scale experiment if you are unsure.
Pellet cells by centrifugation and remove supernatant.
Resuspend cells in approximately 100 µl 4% formaldehyde per 1 million cells. Mix well to dissociate pellet and prevent cross-linking of individual cells.
Fix for 15 min at room temperature (20-25°C).
Wash by centrifugation with excess 1X PBS. Discard supernatant in appropriate waste container. Resuspend cells in 0.5-1 ml 1X PBS. Proceed to Permeabilization step.
Alternatively, cells may be stored overnight at 4°C in 1X PBS.
C. Permeabilization
Permeabilize cells by adding ice-cold 100% methanol slowly to pre-chilled cells, while gently vortexing, to a final concentration of 90% methanol.
Permeabilize for a minimum of 10 min on ice.
Proceed with immunostaining (Section D) or store cells at -20°C in 90% methanol.
D. Immunostaining
NOTE: Count cells using a hemocytometer or alternative method.
Aliquot desired number of cells into tubes or wells. (Generally, 5x105 to 1x106 cells per assay.)
Wash cells by centrifugation in excess 1X PBS to remove methanol. Discard supernatant in appropriate
waste container. Repeat if necessary.
Resuspend cells in 100 µl of diluted primary antibody, prepared in Antibody Dilution Buffer at a recommended dilution or as determined via titration.
Incubate for 1 hr at room temperature.
Wash by centrifugation in Antibody Dilution Buffer or 1X PBS. Discard supernatant. Repeat.
Resuspend cells in 100 µl of diluted fluorochrome-conjugated secondary antibody (prepared in Antibody Dilution Buffer at the recommended dilution).
Incubate for 30 min at room temperature. Protect from light.
Wash by centrifugation in Antibody Dilution Buffer or 1X PBS. Discard supernatant. Repeat.
Resuspend cells in 200-500 µl of 1X PBS and analyze on flow cytometer.
posted November 2008
revised June 2020