TRITC (tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate) is a rhodamine-class fluorophore that emits an orange-red signal, making it a classic choice for multicolor fluorescence applications.
- Spectral Characteristics: TRITC exhibits an excitation maximum typically between 544–557 nm and an emission maximum between 570–580 nm.
- Instrument Compatibility: It is optimally excited by the 532 nm or 561 nm laser lines and is compatible with standard filter sets, such as a 583/24 nm bandpass filter.
- Multiplexing Advantage: Its red-orange emission is well-separated from green fluorophores like FITC, making it a popular choice for dual-labeling experiments.
Applications
Directly TRITC-conjugated primary antibodies are used across several key platforms, offering the advantage of eliminating a secondary antibody incubation step.
- Flow Cytometry: Validated for immunophenotyping and the analysis of cell populations.
- Immunofluorescence Microscopy: Extensively used for visualizing the subcellular localization of target antigens in cells and tissues.
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Immunocytochemistry (ICC): Suitable for staining target proteins in tissue sections and cultured cells.
- Other Platforms: Also applicable for fluorescent Western blotting and fluorescence-based plate assays (FLISA).