ATTO 488 TCO is manufactured by AAT Bioquest for research and development use. ATTO 488 is a hydrophilic, rhodamine-based fluorescent dye with exceptional water solubility. It is characterized by strong absorption, a high fluorescence quantum yield, and exceptional photostability, making it highly suitable for advanced fluorescence imaging techniques. The dye exhibits optimal excitation within the 480–515 nm wavelength range, aligning precisely with the 488 nm emission line of the Argon-Ion laser. ATTO 488 is particularly effective for single-molecule detection and super-resolution microscopy methods such as PALM, dSTORM, and STED. Moreover, it is well-suited for flow cytometry (FACS), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and other bioanalytical applications.

ATTO 488 TCO is particularly useful for labeling tetrazine-modified biomolecules under copper-free conditions. It reacts with tetrazine-functionalized molecules, forming a stable conjugate via a dihydropyrazine moiety. This click reaction is favored over others due to its extremely fast kinetics and higher yields under mild reaction conditions, making it a popular choice for researchers.