The conversion of azo-quenchers to fluorophores.

In this short note we describe the conversion of the widely used fluorescence quenching azo-dyes DABCYL and HABA to fluorophores. The dyes were conjugated to the proteins RNase and human serum albumin (HSA) and subsequently reduced using sodium dithionite (Na2S2O4), thus forming amine-containing fluorophores. Since this chemical reaction can be applied to any azo-containing quencher compound, a great variety of substances can be readily obtained synthetically. This approach provides a promising tool in the use of fluorescence-based investigations of biomolecular interactions.