Some time ago a question came up as to which dye one would use to
stain DNA/RNA with before microinjection of the fluorescent
complex into cells.
This issue has been addressed by Lucas and co-workers (1995) Science
270, 1980: "Selective trafficking of KNOTTED1 homeodomain protein and
its mRNA through plasmodesmata". The authors stained mRNA with the
TOTO-1 dye, microinjected it into tobacco cells and followed mRNA
trafficking from cell to cell.
TOTO-1 is available from Molecular Probes, Inc. (Tel: (5410 465-8300;
FAX: (541) 344-6504); P.O. Box 22010, Eugene, OR 97402, U.S.A.
Martin Poot