Labeling of polyethylenimine with fluorescent dye to image nucleus, nucleolus, and chromosomes in digitonin-permeabilized HeLa cells.

The visualization of nuclear architecture, which changes dynamically depending on the physiological and the pathological situation, remains an important challenge. Here we report that exposure of fluoresceinisothiocyanate-labeled polyethylenimine (FITC-PEI) to digitonin-permeabilized cervical cancer HeLa cells enable rapid detection of the morphology of the nuclear rim, the nucleolus, and mitotic chromosomes. This simple detection strategy can aid in scientific investigation for both basic research and diagnostic purposes.