logo
AAT Bioquest

What is the difference between Rhodamine 123 and Rhodamine B?

Posted October 1, 2021


Answer

Rhodamine 123

  • Green fluorescent mitochondrial dye
  • Molecular formula C21H17ClN2O3
  • Excitation maxima 507 nm
  • Emission maxima 534 nm
  • Soluble in ethanol 1 mg/mL
  • Is cell membrane permeant
  • Stains mitochondria in living cells
  • Widely used in flow cytometry studies involving mitochondrial membrane potential and bacteria. Also used in biochemistry to inhibit mitochondrion function.

Rhodamine B

  • Bright red fluorescent xanthene dye
  • Molecular formula C28H31ClN2O3    
  • Excitation maxima 568 nm
  • Emission maxima 583 nm
  • Soluble in water and methanol
  • Functions as a water tracer fluorescent
  • Widely used as a fluorescent dye in confocal microscopy and for cross staining 1-N-methylamino-5-isocyanonaphthalene (MICAN)

Rhodamine B is used in biology as a staining fluorescent dye to demonstrate acid-fast organisms, notably mycobacterium. Rhodamine B is also a commonly used dye for industrial purposes such as printing and dyeing in textile, paper, paints, leathers, and so on.

Additional resources

Rhodamine-123: a p-glycoprotein marker complex with sodium lauryl sulfate

Rhodamines and Rhodamine Derivatives

5-CR110 [5-Carboxyrhodamine 110] *Single isomer*