Functionalized tricarbocyanine dyes as near-infrared fluorescent probes for biomolecules.

The syntheses of three novel functionalized tricarbocyanine dyes are described. These dyes containing isothiocyanate and succinimidyl ester functional groups are reactive toward primary amines and can be used as fluorescent probes for biologically pertinent compounds such as amino acids and functionalized dideoxynucleotides. The absorption and fluorescence maxima occur in the near-IR region of the spectrum (770-810 nm). The succinimidyl ester proved to be very sensitive to hydrolysis and was generated in situ to label amino acids. The isothiocyanates were less susceptible to hydrolysis and were conjugated using organic modified [40% (v/v) acetonitrile] buffers to amino acids. A dye with an alkyl isothiocyanate moiety showed conjugation to amino-functionalized dideoxynucleotide triphosphates.