Chapter two - Introduction to Fluorescent Probes: Properties, History and Applications

Abstract

The availability of sensitive and selective fluorescent probes for living cells has opened up new horizons in cell biology. With the aid of the modern epifluorescence microscope and video intensification microscopy, and in combination with fluorescent probes, fluorescent-labeled organelles and molecules can be visualized and measured and the information can be stored. This chapter summarizes the nature of fluorescence, the properties of fluorescent probes, and historical developments—from the early use of fluorochromes to modern fluorescent probes. In modern cytochemistry and cell biology, fluorescent probes have been designed and employed as fluorescent tags. Some probes have been used to evaluate cell viability, pH, and membrane potentials. Illustrative tables are provided in this chapter to describe the fluorochromes used in biological microscopy, and fluorescent probes used in modern cell and molecular biology are discussed through an illustrative table. The chapter concludes by providing information on the general applications of fluorescent probes.