XFD555, manufactured by AAT Bioquest, is structurally similar to Alexa Fluor™ 555 (Thermo Fisher). It is a bright orange-fluorescent dye with an excitation optimized for use with either the 488 nm line of the argon-ion laser or the 532 nm line of the frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser. The high fluorescence quantum yield and high photostability of XFD555 allow for the detection of low-abundance biological structures with great sensitivity. XFD555 demonstrates good aqueous solubility and pH-insensitivity over a broad pH range (pH 4–10), ensuring stable fluorescence generation under varying experimental conditions. XFD555 dye molecules can be attached to proteins at high molar ratios without significant self-quenching, enabling brighter conjugates and more sensitive detection in imaging and flow cytometry.

The maleimide derivative of XFD555 is widely used for labeling biomolecules with free thiol (SH) groups, including antibodies, proteins, thiol-modified oligonucleotides, and low molecular weight ligands. Maleimides react readily with sulfhydryl groups, forming stable thio-ether bonds between the dye and the biomolecule, facilitating robust and reliable labeling for diverse experimental applications.