Fluorochromes
Fluorochromes
Fluorochromes (pronunciation: /ˈflʊərəˌkroʊmz/) are a type of fluorescent dye used to stain or label biological samples, allowing them to be detected and studied under a fluorescence microscope.
Etymology
The term "fluorochrome" is derived from the Latin fluere, meaning "to flow", and the Greek chroma, meaning "color". This reflects the ability of these substances to emit light, or "flow color", when excited by a specific wavelength of light.
Types of Fluorochromes
There are several types of fluorochromes, each with unique properties and applications. Some of the most commonly used fluorochromes include:
- FITC (Fluorescein isothiocyanate)
- TRITC (Tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate)
- PE (Phycoerythrin)
- APC (Allophycocyanin)
- PerCP (Peridinin-chlorophyll-protein complex)
Applications
Fluorochromes are widely used in various fields of biological and medical research. They are particularly useful in immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and FISH (Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization) techniques.
In immunofluorescence, fluorochromes are used to label antibodies, enabling the detection and localization of specific proteins within a cell or tissue. In flow cytometry, they are used to label cells or cell components, allowing for their detection and quantification as they flow through a laser beam. In FISH, fluorochromes are used to label DNA probes, enabling the detection and localization of specific DNA sequences within a cell or tissue.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Fluorochromes
- Wikipedia's article - Fluorochromes
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski