Invitrogen™ BrdU Monoclonal Antibody (BU20A), eBioscience™, Invitrogen™

Description

This Bu20a MAb reacts with 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). BrdU is a derivative of uridine that can be incorporated into DNA in place of thymidine during the S-phase of the cell cycle. Anti-BrdU can then be used to identify cells that have undergone DNA synthesis during BrdU treatment. For staining for flow cytometric analysis, we recommend the use of the BrdU Staining Buffer Set (cat. 00-5525) and protocol.

Bromodeoxyuridine (5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine, BrdU) is a synthetic nucleoside that is an analogue of thymidine. BrdU is commonly used in the detection of proliferating cells in living tissues, and can be incorporated into the newly synthesized DNA of replicating cells (during the S phase of the cell cycle), substituting for thymidine during DNA replication. Antibodies specific for BrdU can then be used to detect the incorporated chemical, thus indicating cells that were actively replicating their DNA. Binding of the antibody requires denaturation of the DNA, usually by exposing the cells to acid or heat.