Cyanine fluorophore derivatives with enhanced photostability.

Roger B Altman, Daniel S Terry, Zhou Zhou, Qinsi Zheng, Peter Geggier, Rachel A Kolster, Yongfang Zhao, Jonathan A Javitch, J David Warren, Scott C Blanchard

Index: Nature Methods 9(1) , 68-71, (2012)

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Abstract

Fluorescence applications requiring high photostability often depend on the use of solution additives to enhance fluorophore performance. Here we demonstrate that the direct or proximal conjugation of cyclooctatetraene (COT), 4-nitrobenzyl alcohol (NBA) or Trolox to the cyanine fluorophore Cy5 dramatically enhanced fluorophore photostability without otherwise affecting its native spectral characteristics. Such conjugation is a powerful means of improving the robustness of fluorescence-based applications demanding long-lived, nonblinking fluorescence emission.