DiOC6

DiOC₆ (3,3′-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide) is a fluorescent dye used for the staining of a cell's endoplasmic reticulum, vesicle membranes and mitochondria. Binding to these structures occurs via the dye's hydrophilic groups. DiOC₆ can be used to label living cells, however they are quickly damaged due to the dye's extreme phototoxicity, so cells stained with this dye can only be exposed to light for short periods of time. When exposed to blue light, the dye fluoresces green.