Abstract: The quenching compounds of the invention are nitrogen-substituted xanthenes that are substituted by one or more aromatic or heteroaromatic quenching moieties. The quenching compounds of the invention exhibit little or no observable fluorescence and efficiently quench a broad spectrum of luminescent compounds. The chemically reactive quenching compounds possess utility for labeling a wide variety of substances, including biomolecules. These labeled substances are highly useful for a variety of energy-transfer assays and applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to oligonucleotides labeled with an energy transfer acceptor useful in conjunction with fluorescent nucleic acid stains. The resulting oligonucleotides are useful for decreasing background fluorescence during amplification assays and in ligation assays, and for detecting hybridization.

Abstract: The invention comprises cyanine dyes, in particular chemically reactive dyes, conjugates of reactive cyanine dyes, the non-covalent complexes of nucleic acids with the dyes and dye-conjugates of the invention, and a method of forming a nucleic acid complex with the dyes and dye-conjugates of the present invention. The dyes of the invention are useful for the preparation of dye-conjugates. The presence of a reactive group on the unsymmetrical cyanine dyes of the invention facilitates their covalent conjugation to a variety of substances, both biological and synthetic.

Abstract: The invention describes the preparation and use of fluorescent stains for nucleic acids derived from unsymmetrical cyanine dyes comprising a substituted benzazolium ring system linked by a methine bridge to a pyridinium or quinolinium ring system having at least one substituent on the pyridinium or quinolinium ring that contains a heteroatom. The presence of the heteroatom-containing substituent results in higher sensitivity to oligonucleotides and larger nucleic acid polymers in a wide range of cells and gels, and for use in analysis of cell structure, membrane integrity or function.

Abstract: The present invention describes the use of a variety of merocyanine dyes and substituted merocyanine dyes for detecting and quantifying poly(amino acids), including peptides, polypeptides and proteins. The labeled proteins or peptides are highly colored, but are also detected by their strong fluorescence enhancement. Poly(amino acids) are detected in solution, in electrophoretic gels, and on solid supports, including blots and dipsticks. The present method of staining is highly sensitive, extremely facile, and relatively non-selective.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for labeling or detecting one or more target materials using surface coated fluorescent microparticles with unique characteristics. The unique microparticles used to practice the invention have at least two components: an external substance or coating that is selective for each target material and an internal mixture of multiple fluorescent dyes. The mixture of dyes is a series of two or more fluorescent dyes having overlapping excitation and emission spectra allowing efficient energy transfer from the excitation wavelength of the first dye in the series, transfer through the dyes in the series and re-emitted as an optical signal at the emission wavelength of last dye in the series, resulting in a desired effective Stokes shift for the microparticle that is controlled through selection of appropriate dyes. The unique microparticles are combined with a sample thought to contain the target material(s), so that the microparticles label the target materials.

Abstract: The invention relates to microparticles incorporating a series of two or more fluorescent dyes having overlapping excitation and emission spectra allowing efficient energy transfer from the excitation wavelength of the first dye in the series, transfer through the dyes in the series and re-emitted as an optical signal at the emission wavelength of last dye in the series, resulting in a desired effective Stokes shift which is controlled through selection of appropriate dyes.