logo
AAT Bioquest

FluoroQuest™ Anti-fading Kit I *Optimized for Slide Imaging*

When exposed to excitation light, fluorescence intensity of dyes decreases due to their photooxidation or other photoreactions. There are very few fluorescent dyes that completely resist photobleaching. Frequently, when a section has been scanned repeatedly under strong excitation light, dyes could lose significant fluorescence signal before visual evaluation or photography can be accomplished. For examples, the photobleaching of fluoresceins (such as FITC-labeled antibodies) has become a major problem in fluorescence microscopy. In severe cases (such as phycoprotein-labeled bioconjugates), a fluorescence image of high resolution can not even be taken due to the extremely high photobleaching rate. Fluoroquest™ Anti-Fading Kit is to reduce the dye photobleaching rate, giving researchers longer observation time. The kit contains all the essential components that can be readily applied to imaging experiments. They are all premixed and ready-to-use solutions. This kit is designed for slide format while #20003 is designed for microplate format.

Example protocol

AT A GLANCE

Protocol summary

  1. Prepare Samples (slides or microplate wells)
  2. Add a drop of a component and mount
  3. Examine the specimen under microscope

Important notes
These ready-to-use anti-fading reagents can be applied directly on the washed specimen. Although the reagents have been tested with lots of fixed samples, their optimal anti-fading efficiencies strongly depend on the properties of your samples. We suggest that you try more than one component for your imaging samples to get the ideal component. For example, one component may be more compatible with a fluorescent labeled antibody conjugate (or an enzyme substrate or a special mounting specimens that contain lipophilic plasma membrane stains like DiI) than another one.

SAMPLE EXPERIMENTAL PROTOCOL

Table 1. Recommendations for usage

ComponentsRecommendation
Component AOptimized for FITC and other fluorescein-based imaging experiments.
Component BOptimized for multiplexing imaging. In some cases, it enhances initial fluorescence intensity besides its anti-fading effect.
Component COptimized for multiplexing imaging with minimal phototoxicity
  1. Thaw all the kit components at room temperature, and keep from light.

  2. Remove any excess liquid from your specimen. Add a small drop of the selected component to the specimen. If the sample is on a slide or tissue culture dish, carefully place a coverslip on the drop, avoiding air bubbles. If the sample is on a coverslip, invert the coverslip on a clean glass slide. Remove any excess anti-fading component.

  3. The anti-fading reagents should be incubated for 2 hours to overnight. For long-term storage, seal the coverslip to the slide with nail polish or a plastic sealant. Mounted slides should be stored at 4ºC in the dark for optimum sample longevity. The fluorescence imaging would remain stable for many weeks. Samples can be imaged immediately after mounting. A typical image is shown in Figure 1.

References

View all 18 references: Citation Explorer
On the mechanism of Trolox as antiblinking and antibleaching reagent
Authors: Cordes T, Vogelsang J, Tinnefeld P.
Journal: J Am Chem Soc (2009): 5018
Relationship between DAPI-fluorescence fading and nuclear DNA content: An alternative method to DNA quantification
Authors: Gallardo-Escarate C, Alvarez-Borrego J, Von Br and E, Dupre E, Del Rio-Portilla MA.
Journal: Biol Res (2007): 29
Strategies to improve photostabilities in ultrasensitive fluorescence spectroscopy
Authors: Widengren J, Chmyrov A, Eggeling C, Lofdahl PA, Seidel CA.
Journal: J Phys Chem A (2007): 429
The reliability of long-term storage of direct immunofluorescent staining slides at room temperature
Authors: Dikicioglu E, Meteoglu I, Okyay P, Culhaci N, Kacar F.
Journal: J Cutan Pathol (2003): 430
Comparative genomic hybridization technique
Authors: El-Rifai WE, Knuutila S.
Journal: Methods Mol Med (2001): 25
Page updated on December 6, 2024

Ordering information

Price
Unit size
Catalog Number20001
Quantity
Add to cart

Additional ordering information

Telephone1-800-990-8053
Fax1-800-609-2943
Emailsales@aatbio.com
InternationalSee distributors
Bulk requestInquire
Custom sizeInquire
Technical SupportContact us
Purchase orderSend to sales@aatbio.com
ShippingStandard overnight for United States, inquire for international
Request quotation

Storage, safety and handling

H-phraseH303, H313, H333
Hazard symbolXN
Intended useResearch Use Only (RUO)
R-phraseR20, R21, R22
UNSPSC12352200

Platform

Fluorescence microscope

ExcitationVaries
EmissionVaries
Recommended plateBlack wall, clear bottom

Components

U2OS cells in a 96-well Costar black plate were loaded with 1 µM calcein, AM for 1 hour, fixing with 2% formaldehyde for 30 minutes. Anti-fading reagents were added to the samples after removing all the media. The FITC signals were compared at 0 and 30 seconds exposure time by using an Olympus fluorescence microscopy. The same exposure settings were used for all the images.
U2OS cells in a 96-well Costar black plate were loaded with 1 µM calcein, AM for 1 hour, fixing with 2% formaldehyde for 30 minutes. Anti-fading reagents were added to the samples after removing all the media. The FITC signals were compared at 0 and 30 seconds exposure time by using an Olympus fluorescence microscopy. The same exposure settings were used for all the images.
U2OS cells in a 96-well Costar black plate were loaded with 1 µM calcein, AM for 1 hour, fixing with 2% formaldehyde for 30 minutes. Anti-fading reagents were added to the samples after removing all the media. The FITC signals were compared at 0 and 30 seconds exposure time by using an Olympus fluorescence microscopy. The same exposure settings were used for all the images.