Fluorokromeja

Fluorokromeja, also known as fluorochromes, are organic dyes that exhibit fluorescence when exposed to light of a specific wavelength. They are widely used in various scientific and medical applications due to their ability to emit light at a different wavelength than the light they absorb. This property makes them valuable for imaging and labeling purposes.

Fluorochromes are typically small molecules that contain a conjugated system of alternating single and double bonds, which allows for the delocalization of electrons and the absorption of light. When a fluorochrome absorbs a photon, an electron is excited to a higher energy state. This excited state is unstable and the electron quickly returns to its ground state, releasing a photon of light in the process. The wavelength of the emitted light is longer than that of the absorbed light, a phenomenon known as Stokes shift.

The choice of fluorochrome depends on the specific application. For example, in fluorescence microscopy, different fluorochromes are used to label different cellular components or molecules. In flow cytometry, fluorochromes are used to detect and quantify specific molecules on the surface of cells. In molecular biology, fluorochromes are used in techniques such as PCR and DNA sequencing to visualize and analyze genetic material.

Fluorochromes are available in a variety of colors, including green, red, and far-red, each with its own excitation and emission spectra. They can be conjugated to antibodies, nucleic acids, or other biomolecules to create fluorescent probes. The development of new fluorochromes with improved properties, such as higher brightness, longer fluorescence lifetime, and better photostability, continues to advance the field of fluorescence-based techniques.