Fluorescamine Explained

Fluorescamine is a spiro compound that is not fluorescent itself, but reacts with primary amines to form highly fluorescent products, i.e. it is fluorogenic. It hence has been used as a reagent for the detection of amines and peptides.^[1] 1-100 μg of protein and down to 10 pg of protein can be detected.^{[2] [3]} Once bound to protein the excitation wavelength is 381 nm (near ultraviolet) and the emission wavelength is 470 nm (blue).^[4] This method is found to suffer from high blanks resulting from a high rate of hydrolysis due to requiring a large excess concentration.^[5] Alternative methods are based on ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA), Ellman's reagent (DTNB), or epicocconone.

Reaction

See also

• FQ

Notes and References

1. 10.1016/S0021-9673(00)82285-2 . Cactus alkaloids : XL. Identification of mescaline and other β-phenethylamines in Pereskia, Pereskiopsis and Islaya by use of fluorescamine conjugates . Journal of Chromatography A . 189 . 79–85 . 1980 . Doetsch . Paul W. . Cassady . John M. . McLaughlin . Jerry L. .
2. 10.1016/S0003-9861(73)80023-2 . 4736505 . Fluorometric assay of proteins in the nanogram range . Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics . 155 . 1 . 213–220 . 1973 . Böhlen . Peter . Stein . Stanley . Dairman . Wallace . Udenfriend . Sidney .
3. http://www.interchim.fr/doctec/1/12631E protocol
4. Web site: Biotium . Fluorescamine PRODUCT AND SAFETY DATA SHEET . Biotium . 21 February 2023.
5. https://www.interchim.fr/ft/1/12631M.pdf