Alexa Fluor 488
Alexa Fluor 488 - Related Videos
09:11
Visualizing Dengue Virus through Alexa Fluor Labeling
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Cited by 12 •
2011
Taking advantage of the advancements in fluorophore development and imaging technology, a simple method of Alexa Fluor labeling of dengue virus was devised to visualize the early interactions between virus and cell.
16:31
Simple Elimination of Background Fluorescence in Formalin-Fixed Human Brain Tissue for Immunofluorescence Microscopy
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Cited by 43 •
2017
Background autofluorescence of biological samples often complicates fluorescence-based imaging techniques, especially in aged human postmitotic tissues. This protocol describes how autofluorescence from these samples can be effectively removed using a commercially available light emitting diode light source to photobleach the sample prior to immunostaining.
04:53
Visualization of Calcium Influx in Ventral Midbrain Neurons Derived from Mouse Embryos
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2025
Source: Bancroft, E. A., et al. Quantifying Spontaneous Ca2+ Fluxes and their Downstream Effects in Primary Mouse Midbrain Neurons. J. Vis. Exp. (2020) This video demonstrates the real-time visualization of calcium influx in ventral midbrain neurons derived from mouse embryos. Using a viral vector to express a calcium indicator, the neurons are imaged under a confocal microscope to track changes in fluorescence intensity during spontaneous and neurotransmitter-induced calcium activity.
06:31
Step-specific Sorting of Mouse Spermatids by Flow Cytometry
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Cited by 11 •
2015
We describe a sorting strategy for mouse spermatids using flow cytometry. Spermatids are sorted into four highly pure populations, including round (spermiogenesis steps 1-9), early elongating (spermiogenesis steps 10-12), late elongating (spermiogenesis steps 13-14) and elongated spermatids (spermiogenesis steps 15-16). DNA staining, size and granulosity are used as selection parameters.
06:10
Visualization of Bacteria in Bladder Biopsy Sections via Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization
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2025
This video demonstrates the visualization of bacteria in deparaffinized bladder tissue from a urinary tract-infected patient. Fluorescently-labeled probe hybridized with bacterial 16s ribosomal RNAs reveals the tissue-associated bacteria and their distribution, providing valuable spatial insights into their density within the sample.
FAQs
Alexa Fluor 488 absorbs light near 495 nm and emits green fluorescence around 519 nm. Illumination near its absorption region promotes the fluorophore to an excited state, after which it releases detectable light at the longer emission wavelength. This separation between illumination and emitted signal enables labeled structures to be distinguished during fluorescence microscopy and related assays.
The attached biomolecule or targeting reagent determines the structure revealed, rather than the fluorophore alone. Antibody conjugates can mark selected cellular components, while nucleic acid probes can indicate complementary molecular targets. Because the dye reports the location of its attached reagent, researchers can associate green fluorescence with particular structures, gene-expression signals, or cell populations.
Its green emission provides one distinguishable signal within multicolor imaging experiments. Researchers can use that channel to follow a labeled molecule or structure while examining additional signals from other labels through their respective detection ranges. This arrangement supports comparisons among molecular markers, cell identities, and tissue features within the same developing specimen or imaging analysis.
A typical workflow begins by selecting an Alexa Fluor 488-conjugated antibody, nucleic acid probe, or other reagent that matches the biological target. The reagent is applied to the cells, tissue, or embryo under study, followed by fluorescence imaging or a related assay. The resulting signal is interpreted according to where the labeled reagent appears in the sample.
In developmental biology, researchers attach Alexa Fluor 488 to probes or antibodies that identify molecular or cellular features. Imaging then shows where those targets occur within embryos or developing tissues. Comparing their distributions across locations or developmental stages helps map gene-expression patterns and distinguish cell identities as tissues become organized.
Fluorescent localization can be related to cell migration, tissue organization, and morphogenesis, the formation and shaping of developing structures. Spatial patterns show where a molecular marker or labeled cell population is situated, while observations over time connect changing distributions with developmental progression. This helps link molecular activity to visible tissue-level outcomes rather than viewing either level in isolation.