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AAT Bioquest

Phalloidin Conjugates

Phalloidin-iFluor<sup>®</sup> 488
Actin filaments visualized with Phalloidin-iFluor® conjugates. Respectively, F-actin, nucleus, and lysosomes were stained with Phalloidin iFluor® 488, Nuclear Blue™ DCS1, and LysoBrite™ Red.
Phalloidin is a bicyclic heptapeptide isolated from the poisonous death cap mushroom, Amanita phalloides. Its high binding affinity for the grooves between filamentous actin (F-actin) over monomeric G-actin is widely used to visualize and quantitate F-actin in tissue sections, cell cultures, or cell-free preparations. Compared to actin-specific antibodies, the non-specific binding of phalloidin is negligible, thus providing minimal background and high contrast during cellular imaging. Once bound to F-actin, phalloidin shifts the equilibrium of monomers and filaments toward the filaments side and inhibits ATP-hydrolysis. The interaction stabilizes actin filaments by preventing subunit dissociation, and it promotes actin polymerization by lowering the critical concentration.

When conjugated to fluorescent dyes, phalloidin can be used at nanomolar concentrations to label and visualize F-actin in fixed and permeabilized cells, cell cultures, and cell-free experiments, as well as formaldehyde-fixed and permeabilized tissue sections. Phalloidin conjugates exhibit similar affinity for all types and sizes of actin filaments, binding in a stoichiometric ratio of 1:1 (phallotoxin:actin) in both muscle and nonmuscle cells. Compared to antibodies, phalloidin derivatives' are small (< 2 kDa), and phalloidin-bound filaments do not impede the functional properties of the filaments. The small size also permits denser F-actin labeling producing more detailed stains when imaged at higher resolutions. In addition, because actin is evolutionarily conserved, the binding properties of phalloidin derivatives can be utilized in staining a wide range of animal and plant cells.

Available Phalloidin Conjugates for Staining F-actin

 

 

Phalloidin iFluor® Conjugates


Exploiting the excellent fluorescence properties of our iFluor® dyes, AAT Bioquest has developed a series of phalloidin conjugates spanning the UV-Vis-NIR spectrum, which selectively bind to F-actins. Used at nanomolar concentration, these iFluor® phalloidin derivatives are convenient for many actin-related assays. Such assays include labeling, identifying, and quantitating F-actins in formaldehyde-fixed and permeabilized tissue sections, cell cultures, or cell-free experiments. Compared to traditional fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and rhodamine conjugates, Phalloidin-iFluor® conjugates offer F-actin stains that are superior in brightness and photostability. Phalloidin-iFluor® conjugates are equivalent, and in most cases superior, to Alexa Fluor® conjugates in performance.

We encourage the research community to try our Phalloidin-iFluor® conjugates with their respective protocols for a more intense fluorescence in their F-actin staining. Phalloidin-iFluor® 700, iFluor®-750, and iFluor®-790 conjugates are among the few near-infrared stains available for multicolor imaging. The sufficient spectral separation from commonly used red fluorophores.

 

Table 1. Overview of fluorescent phalloidin conjugates

Specification
Value
ApplicationFluorescent imaging of filamentous actin (F-actin)
Sample TypeFixed & permeabilized cells, cell cultures, cell-free experiments, formaldehyde-fixed & permeabilized tissue sections
Cellular LocalizationF-actin of the cytoskeleton and contractile apparatus of muscle cells (does not bind to monomeric G-actin)
Live/Fixed CellsFixed cells only
PermeabilityCell impermeant
MultiplexingYes
PlatformFluorescence microscope and imaging platforms

Table 2. Phalloidin iFluor® Conjugates

Phalloidin Conjugate
Mol. Wt.
Ex (nm)
Em (nm)
Filter Set
Extinction Coefficient¹
Quantum Yield²
Unit Size
Cat No.
Phalloidin-iFluor® 350∼1300345450DAPI20,0000.95300 Tests23110
Phalloidin-iFluor® 405∼1400403427DAPI37,0000.91300 Tests23111
Phalloidin-iFluor® 488∼1400491516FITC75,0000.9300 Tests23115
Phalloidin-iFluor® 514∼1800511527TRITC75,0000.83300 Tests23116
Phalloidin-iFluor® 532∼1800537560TRITC90,0000.68300 Tests23117
Phalloidin-iFluor® 555∼1300557570TRITC100,0000.64300 Tests23119
Phalloidin-iFluor® 594∼1600588604Texas Red180,0000.53300 Tests23122
Phalloidin-iFluor® 6331703.99640654Texas Red250,0000.29300 Tests23125
Phalloidin-iFluor® 6471408.65656670Cy5250,0000.25300 Tests23127
Phalloidin-iFluor® 680∼2000684701Cy5.5220,0000.23300 Tests23128
Phalloidin-iFluor® 700∼3000690713Cy5.5220,0000.23300 Tests23129
Phalloidin-iFluor® 750∼3300757779Cy7275,0000.12300 Tests23130
Phalloidin-iFluor® 790∼2800787812Cy7250,0000.13300 Tests23131
XFD350 Phalloidin *XFD350 Same Structure to Alexa Fluor™ 350*∼1100343441DAPI19,000N/A300 Tests23150
XFD488 Phalloidin *XFD488 Same Structure to Alexa Fluor™ 488*∼1300499520FITC73,0000.92300 Tests23153
XFD594 Phalloidin *XFD594 Same Structure to Alexa Fluor™ 594*∼1600590618Texas Red92,0000.66300 Tests23153
Phalloidin-AMCA Conjugate∼1100346434DAPI19,000N/A300 Tests23100
Phalloidin-Fluorescein Conjugate∼1100498517FITC80,0000.79 (EtOH)/0.95 (0.1 NaOH)300 Tests23101
Phalloidin-Tetramethylrhodamine Conjugate∼1300498517TRITC/Cy390,000N/A300 Tests23102
Phalloidin-California Red Conjugate∼1000592609Texas Red100,000Not Determined300 Tests23103
Phalloidin *CAS#: 17466-45-4*788.88-----1 mg5301
Phalloidin Amine *CAS#: 87876-22-0*901.91-----100 µg5302
Phalloidin-PEG4-DBCO1366.55-----100 µg5303
Phalloidin lysine885.91-----100 µg5304
Phalloidin lysine885.91-----1 mg5305
  1. Extinction Coefficient = molar extinction coefficient at their maximum absorption wavelength (Units = cm-1M-1).
  2. Quantum Yield = fluorescence quantum yield in aqueous buffer (pH 7.2).