What is atto dye?

Atto Dyes

Atto dyes refer to a family of fluorescent dyes used in a variety of biological and chemical applications for labelling proteins, nucleic acids, and other biological molecules. Offering high fluorescence intensity, these dyes are designed for maximum brightness and photostability, making them ideal for sensitive applications such as fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy.

Key Properties of Atto Dyes

• Absorption and Emission: Atto dyes exhibit high molar extinction coefficients and quantum yields. This results in strong absorption and bright fluorescence emission.
• Photostability: They show remarkable resistance to photobleaching, thus ensuring strong signals over extended periods.
• Size and Conjugation: The small size of Atto dyes allows for straightforward conjugation to biomolecules without significantly altering their natural function.
• Spectral Diversity: They are available in a wide range of wavelengths, which enables multiplexing in applications where detection of multiple targets is required.
• Water Solubility: Many Atto dyes are water-soluble, facilitating their use in aqueous biological systems.

Applications of Atto Dyes

• Fluorescence microscopy
• Flow cytometry
• Single-molecule spectral imaging
• In vivo imaging
• Super-resolution microscopy techniques like STED and PALM/STORM

In summary, Atto dyes are a crucial tool in modern biochemistry and molecular biology, greatly enhancing the capabilities of researchers to visualize and track biological processes at the molecular level. With their exceptional photostability and fluorescence properties, they are particularly well-suited for demanding applications where both brightness and durability are essential.