Fluorophore: Difference between revisions
Squidonius (talk | contribs) |
Squidonius (talk | contribs) added link to handbook |
||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
A '''fluorophore''', in analogy to a [[chromophore]], is a component of a molecule which causes a molecule to be [[Fluorescence in the life sciences|fluorescent]]. It is a [[functional group]] in a molecule which will absorb energy of a specific wavelength and re-emit energy at a different (but equally specific) wavelength. The amount and wavelength of the emitted energy depend on both the fluorophore and the chemical environment of the fluorophore. This technology has particular importance in the field of [[biochemistry]] and [[protein]] studies, eg. in [[immunofluorescence]] and [[immunohistochemistry]].<ref name=Pawley>{{cite book |author = Tsien RY, Waggoner Aeditor=Pawley JB |chapter= Fluorophores for confocal microscopy | title=Handbook of biological confocal microscopy |publisher=Plenum Press |location=New York |year=1995 |pages=267-74 |isbn=0-306-44826-2 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=16Ft5k8RC-AC&pg=PA267|accessdate=2008-12-13}}</ref> |
A '''fluorophore''', in analogy to a [[chromophore]], is a component of a molecule which causes a molecule to be [[Fluorescence in the life sciences|fluorescent]]. It is a [[functional group]] in a molecule which will absorb energy of a specific wavelength and re-emit energy at a different (but equally specific) wavelength. The amount and wavelength of the emitted energy depend on both the fluorophore and the chemical environment of the fluorophore. This technology has particular importance in the field of [[biochemistry]] and [[protein]] studies, eg. in [[immunofluorescence]] and [[immunohistochemistry]].<ref name=Pawley>{{cite book |author = Tsien RY, Waggoner Aeditor=Pawley JB |chapter= Fluorophores for confocal microscopy | title=Handbook of biological confocal microscopy |publisher=Plenum Press |location=New York |year=1995 |pages=267-74 |isbn=0-306-44826-2 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=16Ft5k8RC-AC&pg=PA267|accessdate=2008-12-13}}</ref> |
||
[[Fluorescein isothiocyanate]] (FITC), a reactive derivative of [[fluorescein]], has been one of the most common fluorophores chemically attached to other, non-fluorescent molecules to create new fluorescent molecules for a variety of applications. Other historically common fluorophores are derivatives of [[rhodamine]] (TRITC), [[coumarin]], and [[cyanine]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Rietdorf J |title=Microscopic Techniques | series = Advances in Biochemical Engineering / Biotechnology |publisher=Springer |location=Berlin |year=2005 |pages= 246-9 |isbn=3-540-23698-8 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=h9F_RGrIoicC&pg=PA247 |accessdate=2008-12-13}}</ref> Newer generations of fluorophores such as the [[Alexa (fluor)|Alexa Fluors]] and the [[DyLight Fluor]]s are generally more photostable, brighter, and less [[pH]]-sensitive than other standard dyes of comparable excitation and emission.<ref name=Pawley/> |
[[Fluorescein isothiocyanate]] (FITC), a reactive derivative of [[fluorescein]], has been one of the most common fluorophores chemically attached to other, non-fluorescent molecules to create new fluorescent molecules for a variety of applications. Other historically common fluorophores are derivatives of [[rhodamine]] (TRITC), [[coumarin]], and [[cyanine]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Rietdorf J |title=Microscopic Techniques | series = Advances in Biochemical Engineering / Biotechnology |publisher=Springer |location=Berlin |year=2005 |pages= 246-9 |isbn=3-540-23698-8 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=h9F_RGrIoicC&pg=PA247 |accessdate=2008-12-13}}</ref> Newer generations of fluorophores such as the [[Alexa (fluor)|Alexa Fluors]] and the [[DyLight Fluor]]s are generally more photostable, brighter, and less [[pH]]-sensitive than other standard dyes of comparable excitation and emission.<ref name=Pawley/> <ref>Lakowicz, J.R., Principles of fluorescence spectroscopy. 3rd ed. 2006, New York: Springer. xxvi, 954 p.</ref> <ref>http://www.invitrogen.com/site/us/en/home/References/Molecular-Probes-The-Handbook/Introduction-to-Fluorescence-Techniques.html</ref> |
||
== Size == |
== Size == |
||
| Line 37: | Line 37: | ||
* Pyrene derivatives |
* Pyrene derivatives |
||
* Oregon green, eosin, texas red, Cascade blue, [[Nile red]] etc |
* Oregon green, eosin, texas red, Cascade blue, [[Nile red]] etc |
||
{{further|http://www.invitrogen.com/site/us/en/home/References/Molecular-Probes-The-Handbook.html}} |
|||
== See also == |
== See also == |
||
Revision as of 16:11, 1 July 2009
A fluorophore, in analogy to a chromophore, is a component of a molecule which causes a molecule to be fluorescent. It is a functional group in a molecule which will absorb energy of a specific wavelength and re-emit energy at a different (but equally specific) wavelength. The amount and wavelength of the emitted energy depend on both the fluorophore and the chemical environment of the fluorophore. This technology has particular importance in the field of biochemistry and protein studies, eg. in immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry.[1]
Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), a reactive derivative of fluorescein, has been one of the most common fluorophores chemically attached to other, non-fluorescent molecules to create new fluorescent molecules for a variety of applications. Other historically common fluorophores are derivatives of rhodamine (TRITC), coumarin, and cyanine.[2] Newer generations of fluorophores such as the Alexa Fluors and the DyLight Fluors are generally more photostable, brighter, and less pH-sensitive than other standard dyes of comparable excitation and emission.[1] [3] [4]
Size
The size of the fluorophore might sterically hinder the tagged molecule:
- quantum dot: 2-10 nm (diameter), 100-100,000 atoms
- protein: Green fluorescent protein (GFP) 26 kDa
- small molecule: luciferin: about 20 atoms
Families
Fluorophores can be attached to protein to specific functional groups, such as
- amino groups (succinimide, Isothiocyanate, hydrazine)
- carboxyl groups (Carbodiimide)
- thiol (maleimide, acetyl bromide)
- azide (via click chemistry)
or non-specificately (Glutaraldehyde).
These fluorophores are either quantum dots or small molecules. The former a fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles. The latter molecules which fluoresce thanks to delocalized electrons which can jump a band and stabilize the energy absorbed, hence most fluorophores are aromatic, a propriety that can arise is that when polar molecules stabilize one resonance structure more over the other the dye is sensitive to the environment's polarity (solvatochromic), hence called environmentally sensitive.
Common dye families are:
- Alexa Fluor (invitrogen)
- cyanine and merocyanine
- BODIPY (invitrogen)
- Atto (sigma)
- Fluorescein derivatives
- Rhodamine derivatives
- naphtalene derivatives (Dansyl and Prodan derivatives)
- Pyridyloxazole, Nitrobenzoxadiazole and Benzoxadiazole derivatives
- Coumarin derivatives
- Pyrene derivatives
- Oregon green, eosin, texas red, Cascade blue, Nile red etc
See also
- Dark quencher
- Category:Fluorescent dyes
- Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) - an application for quantifying mobility of molecules in lipid bilayers.
- Fluorescence in the life sciences
References
- ^ a b Tsien RY, Waggoner Aeditor=Pawley JB (1995). "Fluorophores for confocal microscopy". Handbook of biological confocal microscopy. New York: Plenum Press. pp. 267–74. ISBN 0-306-44826-2. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ^ Rietdorf J (2005). Microscopic Techniques. Advances in Biochemical Engineering / Biotechnology. Berlin: Springer. pp. 246–9. ISBN 3-540-23698-8. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ^ Lakowicz, J.R., Principles of fluorescence spectroscopy. 3rd ed. 2006, New York: Springer. xxvi, 954 p.
- ^ http://www.invitrogen.com/site/us/en/home/References/Molecular-Probes-The-Handbook/Introduction-to-Fluorescence-Techniques.html