Fluorescein isothiocyanate

Fluorescein isothiocyanate
Names
Other names
FITC
Identifiers
27072-45-3 Yes
ChEBI CHEBI:37928 Yes
ChemSpider 2043359 Yes
Jmol-3D images Image
MeSH Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate
PubChem 18730
Properties
C21H11NO5S
Molar mass 389.382
Density 1.542 g/mL
Melting point 359.5 °C (679.1 °F; 632.6 K)
Except where noted otherwise, data is given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
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Infobox references

Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) is a derivative of fluorescein used in wide-ranging applications including flow cytometry. FITC is the original fluorescein molecule functionalized with an isothiocyanate reactive group (-N=C=S), replacing a hydrogen atom on the bottom ring of the structure. This derivative is reactive towards nucleophiles including amine and sulfhydryl groups on proteins.

A succinimidyl-ester functional group attached to the fluorescein core, creating "NHS-fluorescein", forms another common amine reactive derivative that has much greater specificity toward primary amines in the presence of other nucleophiles.

FITC has excitation and emission spectrum peak wavelengths of approximately 495 nm/519 nm.[1] Like most fluorochromes, it is prone to photobleaching. Because of the problem with photobleaching, derivatives of fluorescein such as Alexa 488 and DyLight 488 have been tailored for various chemical and biological applications where greater photostability, higher fluorescence intensity, or different attachment groups are needed.

References

  1. http://www.fluorophores.tugraz.at/substance/252 Fluorophores.org