Optical properties of fluorochromes promising for use in biological microchips

Fourteen fluorochromes (free and oligonucleotide-bound) and five ligands co mmonly used to quantitatively assess DNA duplexes or complexes with protein s in microchips were studied by measuring their fluorescence excitation and emission spectra. The spectral changes are described that were caused by o ligonucleotide binding, solution hybridization, or varying the temperature. The data are discussed from the standpoint of applicability and limitation s of the fluorochromes and the ligands in qualitative and quantitative assa ys for DNA duplexes in microchips.