Equilibrium binding of Hoechst 33258 and Hoechst 33342 fluorochromes with rat colorectal cells.

We examined the biophysical characteristics of the interaction of Hoechst 33258 and 33342 dyes with normal rat colorectal cells as functions of fixation and solution composition. Classical dye-binding techniques were used to investigate the stoichiometry and binding constants with whole cells, and quantitative fluorescence image analysis was used to specifically study nuclear dye binding in intact cells. In aqueous solution, H-33258 dye bound cooperatively with intact cells, with a binding constant of between 3-4 x 10(5). In ethanolic solution, binding appeared less cooperative, although Scatchard analysis could not be used. The binding constant was slightly lower (2 x 10(5)), but the total number of cell binding sites was decreased by a factor of 5, reflecting a great decrease in cytoplasmic sites. QFIA studies identified conditions optimal for DNA quantitation under which the fluorescence signal was independent of dye or cell concentration. The proportionality between absolute nuclear fluorescence intensity and DNA content was established, and the upper limit of DNA content of normal colorectal cells was also determined.