XFD405, manufactured by AAT Bioquest, is a blue-fluorescent dye that is structurally similar to Alexa Fluor™ 405 (Thermo Fisher). This dye is water-soluble and optimized for excitation by the 407 nm krypton laser line or the 408 nm violet laser diode, making it suitable for a range of fluorescence-based techniques. XFD405 is pH-insensitive across a wide range (pH 4 – 10) and exhibits minimal quenching when conjugated to proteins, ensuring consistent fluorescence signals in live-cell imaging. With an excitation maximum at 401 nm and emission at 422 nm, XFD405 is well-suited for multicolor flow cytometry and super-resolution microscopy (STORM), providing reliable performance in applications requiring distinct spectral separation and photostability.

The N-hydroxysuccinimidyl (NHS) ester of XFD405 is a widely used reagent for the conjugation of this dye to proteins or antibodies. NHS esters react selectively and efficiently with primary amines (such as the side chains of lysine residues or aminosilane-coated surfaces) at pH 7–9, forming stable covalent amide bonds. This property makes XFD405 NHS ester an excellent choice for labeling proteins, amine-modified oligonucleotides, and other amine-containing molecules.