Amine-Reactive Rhodamine Derivatives

Dissolve the purified SPDP-modified dendrimer of step 5 in 50 mM sodium phosphate, 0.15M NaCl, pH 7.5, or in DMSO at a concentration of at least lOmg/ml. Add a 10-20 X molar excess of an amine-reactive fluorescent molecule (i.e., NHS-rhodamine or a hydrophilic NHS-Cy5 derivative see section on fluorescent probes). React with mixing for 1 hour at room temperature. Purify the fluorescently labeled SPDP-modified dendrimer using gel filtration or ultrafiltration. Follow the method of either step 7 or 8 to conjugate the dendrimer to another protein or molecule. 

Four forms of amine-reactive rhodamine probes are commonly available. Two of them are based on the tetramethyl derivatives of the fundamental rhodamine structure, one is based on the sulforhodamine B or Lissamine derivative, and the last is the sulforhodamine 101 or Texas Red-type of derivative. All of them react under alkaline conditions with primary amines in proteins and other molecules to form stable, highly fluorescent complexes. 

DNA modified with a diamine compound to contain terminal primary amines may be coupled with amine-reactive fluorescent labels. The most common fluorophores used for oligonucleotide labeling are the cyanine dyes and derivatives of fluorescein and rhodamine (Chapter 9). However, any of the amine-reactive labels discussed throughout Chapter 9 are valid candidates for DNA applications. 

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