Fluorophore
Fluorophore — A fluorescent chemical compound that absorbs and re-emits light, conjugated to peptides for imaging, tracking, and binding studies.
What Is a Fluorophore?
A fluorophore is a molecule that absorbs light at one wavelength and emits fluorescence at a longer wavelength. Fluorophore-labeled peptides enable visualization, quantification, and tracking in imaging, binding assays, flow cytometry, and high-throughput screening.
Common Peptide Fluorophores
- FITC: Ex 494/Em 521 nm (green). Amine-reactive. Classic but photo-bleaches rapidly
- TAMRA: Ex 555/Em 580 nm (red). FRET acceptor for FAM
- Alexa Fluor: Photostable series (350-790 nm). Superior brightness and water solubility
- Cy5: Ex 649/Em 670 nm (far-red). Low autofluorescence background in tissue
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Fluorophore?
A fluorescent chemical compound that absorbs and re-emits light, conjugated to peptides for imaging, tracking, and binding studies.
Why is Fluorophore important in peptide research?
Fluorophore is a fundamental concept in analytical as it relates to peptide science. It directly influences experimental design, compound characterization, and the reliability of research outcomes across biochemistry and molecular biology disciplines.