Background:

The single isomer, 5-FAM, contains a carboxylic acid that can be used to react with primary amines via carbodiimide activation of the carboxylic acid. Fluorescein is the most common fluorescent derivatization reagent for labeling biomolecules. In addition to its relatively high absorptivity, excellent fluorescence quantum yield, and good water solubility, fluorescein has an excitation maximum that closely matches the 488 nm spectral line of the argon-ion laser.