Do you know what is the perfect REDOX probe for your research?

Redox probes are sometimes considered to be equivalent and to react with all free radicals equally, so choosing one may seem tricky. However, they tend to be more reactive towards one than others and so the suitability should be considered depending on the aim of the experiments and the samples to be tested. In this blog post, we are going to show the differences, similarities, reactiveness and recommendations for each probe from our catalogue, hoping to shed some light into this topic:

DHE, DCFH-DA and DHR-123

DHE

Reacts directly with:

• O₂^-·
• H₂O₂ in the presence of Fe²⁺ or cytocrome c

Interferences:

• 2-OH-E⁺

Recommendations:

Suitable for detection of intracellular oxidants However, red fluorescence measurements using fluorescence or confocal microscopy will not be able to distinguish between E+ and 2-OH-E+.

Measurement of H2O2 in the presence of Fe²⁺ or cytochrome c; and O2^–

DCFH-DA

Reacts directly with:

• OH
• Compounds I and II
• NO₂ formed from the myeloperoxidase/ H₂O_2/NO^–₂ system
• Hypoclorus acid (HOCl)
• Reactive species formed form peroxynitrite (ONOO^–/ONOOH) decomposition
• H₂O₂ in the presence of Fe²⁺

Reacts indirectly with:

• H₂O₂

Interferences:

• Heme proteins: hemoglobin, cytochrome c released during apoptosis
• O₂ : Artifactual amplification of the fluorescence signal intensity

Recommendations:

Suitable as a redox indicator probe for uncovering new redox signaling mechanisms keeping in mind the various caveats.

Measurement of H₂O₂, ROO· and ONOO^–