Carbotrace are optotracers for anatomical mapping of carbohydrate structures in plants and for non-destructive composition analysis of glucans in bio-based materials and biofuels.
The optotracing technology entails the use of structure-responsive fluorescent molecules (optotracers) which become fluorescent when binding to a target. The excitation and emission spectra of the optotracer molecule contain information on the structure of their binding partner and their environment. This spectral fingerprint can be used to identify biomolecules in various types of materials.
Carbotrace is available in five variants which bind to repetitive motifs in proteins and carbohydrates. It has been shown that Carbotrace 680 binds to homoglucans and heteroglucans with a limited degree of branching. By using the spectral fingerprint from the excitation- and emission spectra, it was shown that the optotracer can differentiate between different types of glycosidic bonds. Using Multi-laser/Multi-detector imaging, non-destructive composition analysis of biomass has been performed such as differentiation of cellulose cell walls and starch granules in fresh potato as well as cellulose and lignin in in various types of biomass. Using fluorescence lifetime imaging in combination with Carbotrace 680, the mechanism of paper ageing was analysed. Further, Carbotrace 680 was used to visualise cellulose content in terrestrial plants (maize root and ulvophyceae) as well as algae and to characterise a cellulose immobilisation matrix in a microfluidic device. Carbotrace 480 was used as a tool for cellulose visualisation and to optimise cellulose extraction from macroalgae.
Carbotrace variant work in a wide range of salt and pH conditions. When the pH is altered during the experiment, pH controls should be included. Carotrace can be used with fluorescence plate readers, fluorescence microscopes and confocal laser scanning microscopes and fluorescence life time imaging.
Store your Carbotracer product in the fridge and use the opened container within 12 months. Carbotrace is for research use only and is not for resale.