Unveiling the Next Generation of Actin Imaging

By Tebubio, February 2025

An Insight from the Tebubio Team
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Discover how SPY650-FastAct_X and the Actin_TestKit revolutionise live-cell actin imaging with unparalleled precision, flexibility, and minimal perturbation to actin dynamics. Unleash the full potential of your microscopy experiments with Spirochrome’s next-generation probes!

“Understanding cellular dynamics starts with the right tools. With SPY650-FastAct_X, we can now visualise actin with unmatched clarity—without interfering with its natural behaviour.”

Advancing Live-Cell Actin Imaging with Spirochrome New Products

Actin cytoskeleton imaging is a cornerstone of cellular biology, playing a pivotal role in understanding cell motility, morphology, and intracellular transport. Traditional probes have enabled significant progress, yet limitations such as photobleaching, cytotoxicity, and interference with actin dynamics persist.

 

Our trusted partner: Spirochrome’s latest innovations, SC502 – SPY650-FastAct_X and SC500 – Actin_TestKit, address these challenges, delivering superior performance in live-cell imaging.

SC502 SPY650-FastAct_X: A Third-Generation Actin Probe for Highly Dynamic Actin

SC502 – SPY650-FastAct_X is a cutting-edge third-generation actin probe, meticulously designed to label actin in live cells without perturbing its dynamic nature.

 

Unlike conventional probes that stabilize actin filaments and alter their natural behaviour, SPY650-FastAct_X binds and unbinds rapidly, ensuring a faithful representation of actin dynamics.

SC502 – SPY650-FastAct_X

Key Advantages of SPY650-FastAct_X

A comparative table of Spirochrome’s actin probes highlights the unique advantages of SPY650-FastAct_X:

  • Superior Imaging of Fast Actin Dynamics: The probe demonstrates the fastest exchange rate at F-actin binding sites, making it an ideal choice for high-resolution and time-lapse microscopy.

 

  • Minimal Perturbation of Actin Cytoskeleton: Unlike previous generations, it does not stabilise F-actin, allowing researchers to observe physiological processes without artefacts.

 

  • Optimised for Long-Term Imaging: Thanks to its optimised actin ligand, SPY650-FastAct_X ensures extended imaging sessions with minimal phototoxicity.

 

  • Excellent Fluorogenicity and STED Compatibility: The probe emits in the far-red Cy5 channel (674 nm fluorescence maximum), providing high-contrast imaging with minimal background fluorescence.

SC500 Actin_TestKit: Versatile Actin Imaging in a Single Kit

Live-cell actin imaging presents a variety of experimental challenges, including temporal resolution, background fluorescence, and phototoxicity. SC500 – Actin_TestKit simplifies probe selection by providing three complementary actin probes in one convenient package:


  1. SiR-actin: The benchmark probe, widely used for reliable actin imaging.
  2. SPY650-FastAct: A second-generation probe designed for improved performance in fast actin dynamics studies.
  3. SPY650-FastAct_X: The latest and most advanced probe, optimised for long-term and sensitive cell imaging.

SC502 – SPY650-FastAct_X

Why Choose the Actin_TestKit?

  • Flexibility in Experimental Design: The kit provides the versatility to select the best probe depending on the specific experimental needs.
  • Cost-Effective: The three-probe kit offers significant cost savings compared to purchasing individual actin probes.
  • High-Performance Far-Red Fluorescence: All probes are cell-permeable, fluorogenic, and STED-compatible, making them ideal for high-resolution microscopy.

Transforming Actin Cytoskeleton Research & Go Beyond

With the launch of SPY650-FastAct_X and the Actin_TestKit, Spirochrome continues to push the boundaries of live-cell imaging technology.

 

Whether researchers require fast-exchanging actin probes or a comprehensive toolkit for multiple experimental conditions, these innovations provide unprecedented imaging precision.

Explore the next generation of actin imaging and elevate your research with Spirochrome’s latest advancements.

SC500 – Actin_TestKit