Colcemid/Demecolcin

Colcemid (Demecolcin) is a synthetic, less harmful analog of colchicine (a toxic alkaloid of Colchicum autumnale). The synthetic alkaloid depolymerizes microtubules and thus inhibits the formation of spindle fibres during cell mitosis. Colcemid is therefore mainly used for chromosome analysis in the karyotyping of lymphocytes and the chromosome analysis of amniotic fluid cells. It arrests the cells during metaphase and exposes chromosomes, which can then be analyzed.

Our colcemid/demecolcine solution is formulated in DPBS and has a concentration of 10 µg/ml.