What does Cy3 stain?
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Cy3 Stain Overview
Cy3, also known as Cyanine3, is a fluorescent dye commonly used in molecular biology and biotechnological applications for labeling a variety of biomolecules, including nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and proteins. This dye is part of the cyanine dye family and is well-known for its bright fluorescence and photostability, making it an excellent choice for various imaging and fluorescence-based assays.
Applications of Cy3
- Fluorescence microscopy
- Flow cytometry
- Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)
- Western blotting
- Immunohistochemistry
Target Molecules
Cy3 can be conjugated to a wide range of molecules, including:
- Nucleic Acids: For detecting specific sequences of DNA or RNA within samples.
- Proteins: For visualizing the presence and location of specific proteins in cells or tissue sections.
- Antibodies: Cy3-labeled antibodies are used in immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry to target specific antigens within cells or tissue samples.
Advantages of Using Cy3
Cy3 dye offers several advantages, including:
- High fluorescence intensity
- Good photostability, allowing for longer observation times without significant fading
- Compatibility with a wide range of fluorescence detection equipment
- Excitation and emission spectra that fit well with commonly used filter sets in fluorescence microscopy and other imaging techniques
Due to these properties, Cy3 is a versatile and widely used fluorescent dye in the field of life sciences for the visualization and analysis of biological molecules.