TAMRA dye – Advanced labeling solutions for nucleic acid research
5-TAMRA dye (Carboxytetramethylrhodamine) is a widely used fluorescent label in the field of life sciences, particularly for oligonucleotide and protein labeling. Known for its distinct spectral properties and stable performance, TAMRA fluorophores are essential in modern molecular biology applications such as real-time PCR, fluorescence microscopy and nucleic acid hybridization assays.
It offers reliable fluorescence, minimal signal interference and excellent compatibility with both manual and automated workflows. Due to these properties, TAMRA dyes are frequently chosen in diagnostics, therapeutic development, and advanced imaging technologies.
What is TAMRA dye?
TAMRA dye stands for 5-Carboxytetramethylrhodamine. It is a well-known fluorescent dye that is often used in biological and biochemical research. It is part of the rhodamine dye family and is known for its bright signal and strong resistance to fading when exposed to light. These features make it especially useful in experiments that require sensitive and long-lasting fluorescent labeling.
TAMRA absorbs and emits light within the orange-to-red wavelength range, with an excitation maximum at approximately 556 nm and an emission maximum at around 579 nm. This makes it easily detectable using standard fluorescence equipment configured for orange-to-red channels. Due to its properties, TAMRA dye is commonly used in FRET-based assays (Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer) in combination with FAM dyes (BCFA-001, BCFA-247), as well as in multiplex experiments, where multiple dyes are required simultaneously without signal overlap.
One of the key strengths of TAMRA is its ability to bind to biological molecules. Additionally, it is available in various reactive forms for conjugation, such as azides, making it a flexible and convenient dye for a wide range of labeling techniques.
Common applications of TAMRA dye in life sciences
Fluorescent labeling of oligonucleotides
TAMRA is frequently used as a reporter dye at the 5’-end, the 3’-end or as internal label within DNA or RNA probes. This allows for accurate monitoring in real-time PCR or other hybridization assays as e.g. FISH. Additionally, TAMRA is often utilized in combination with FAM to produce FRET probes in which FAM serves as the donor and TAMRA serves as the acceptor fluorophore.
Protein and antibody labeling
TAMRA dye is used due to its high photostability and the wide range of applications in biological buffers for antibody labeling. The photostability ensures reliable signals during e.g. time-lapse microscopy. The compatibility with biological buffers make it an ideal candidate for antibody labeling when flow cytometry-based analysis is planned.
Live-cell imaging and diagnostics
TAMRA dye is highly valued for its strong fluorescence signal and low background interference, making it an excellent choice for in vivo tracking and the development of diagnostic assays. Its chemical versatility enables conjugation via click chemistry, when the appropriate functional groups, such as azides or alkynes, are present. Click chemistry enables highly specific and efficient labeling under mild, bio-compatible conditions, often forming stable triazole linkages without interfering with biological activity.
baseclick offers two azide-modified TAMRA variants that differ in linker length:
Short Linker: Ideal for applications requiring close spatial proximity between fluorophores, such as FRET-based assays.
Long Linker: Designed to minimize steric hindrance and improve reaction efficiency and yield in labeling protocols.
Depending on the experimental setup, these azide-functionalized TAMRA dyes can be used in either copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) or copper-free strain-promoted reactions. This flexibility makes TAMRA a powerful tool for bioorthogonal labeling in complex biological environments.
TAMRA fluorophore vs. other fluorescent labels
Comparison with FAM, Cy3 & other dyes
Compared to commonly used fluorophores such as FAM and Cy3, TAMRA has several advantages that make it the preferred choice for high-sensitivity applications. Unlike FAM, which is more prone to photobleaching, TAMRA is highly photostable and produces consistent fluorescence across a range of biological conditions. This makes it particularly well-suited to long-term imaging experiments and in vivo tracking. When compared to Cy3, TAMRA provides a narrower emission spectrum (around 579 nm) which helps to reduce spectral overlap in multiplexed assays. This spectral precision improves the ability to discriminate signals when multiple dyes are used simultaneously, for example in flow cytometry or multiplex qPCR.
TAMRA also functions effectively in FRET-based assays, often serving as an acceptor fluorophore when paired with FAM as the donor. The good spectral overlap between FAM’s emission and TAMRA’s absorption enables efficient energy transfer.
Additionally, TAMRA can be used as a quencher in dual-labeled probes; however, its intrinsic fluorescence may contribute to background signal in certain situations. For applications requiring minimal background, dark quenchers such as BHQ may be preferable.
Overall, the balance that TAMRA offers between brightness, photostability and spectral clarity makes it a versatile fluorophore for developing diagnostic assays, for live-cell imaging and for multiplexed molecular detection.
Why researchers choose TAMRA dye
Researchers frequently select TAMRA dye for its reliable performance and versatility across a wide range of molecular biology applications. Key advantages include:
- High Fluorescence Intensity: TAMRA delivers bright, stable fluorescence, ensuring consistent signal output across various experimental conditions.
- Low Interference with Hybridization: Its chemical structure minimizes disruption of nucleic acid hybridization, making it ideal for probe-based assays.
- Workflow Versatility: TAMRA is compatible with both manual and automated platforms, supporting seamless integration into diverse laboratory protocols.
- Flexible Probe Design: Suitable for use in both single-labeled and dual-labeled probe systems, including FRET and quencher-based formats.
Role of TAMRA dye in molecular diagnostics and therapeutics
Applications in vaccine and therapeutic research
TAMRA is a versatile fluorescent dye that is widely used in molecular biology for labeling DNA, RNA, peptides and antibodies. Its bright signal, photostability and compatibility with various assay formats make it ideal for:
Vaccine research: Tracking antigen uptake, cellular trafficking and immune cell interactions using TAMRA-labeled molecules helps to optimize vaccine delivery and evaluate immune responses.
Therapeutic development: TAMRA enables the visualization of drug delivery, enzyme activity (via FRET) and peptide stability, supporting targeted therapies and drug screening.
Diagnostics: When used in qPCR, molecular beacons and binding assays, TAMRA enhances the sensitivity and precision with which nucleic acids can be detected and biomolecular interactions studied.
The broad range of applications of TAMRA in imaging, tracking and quantification makes it a valuable tool in both research and clinical settings.
Use in click chemistry and cell labeling
TAMRA (Tetramethylrhodamine) is a highly effective fluorescent dye for bioorthogonal labeling, especially when used in conjunction with click chemistry protocols. Its azide-functionalized variants allow precise incorporation into biomolecules via copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), enabling selective and stable labeling with minimal cytotoxicity.
This capability is particularly valuable in cell proliferation assays and live-cell imaging. For example, a TAMRA dye is used in the 555 variants of baseclick’s EdU Cell Proliferation Kits,
where it labels newly synthesized DNA for applications in fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, and high throughput screening. These kits utilize TAMRA’s bright signal and compatibility with click chemistry to visualize DNA replication with high sensitivity.
Beyond DNA labeling, TAMRA is also employed to tag proteins, peptides, and other cellular components, facilitating studies of cellular uptake, trafficking, and biomolecular interactions. Its photostability and spectral properties make it ideal for multiplexed imaging and diagnostic workflows.
Quality considerations when working with TAMRA
Reproducibility and purity requirements
For sensitive applications, the purity of TAMRA-labeled reagents plays a critical role. Even low-level impurities or labeling inconsistencies can lead to variability in results, especially in clinical or diagnostic workflows. Therefore, it is essential to source your dye from a provider with a strict quality control as guaranteed by baseclick`s ISO 9001 certification.
Storage and stability
TAMRA dye and labeled products should be protected from light and stored at low temperatures to maintain stability. Under appropriate conditions, the dye maintains its fluorescence properties and chemical integrity for extended periods, ensuring reliability across multiple experiments.
Conclusion: Is TAMRA dye the right choice for your research?
TAMRA dye continues to be one of the most reliable and flexible fluorophores in nucleic acid and protein labeling. Its brightness, stability and compatibility with a wide range of detection platforms make it an ideal choice for researchers in diagnostics, vaccine development and advanced imaging.
If you are working on complex assays that require robust, reproducible fluorescence signals, TAMRA fluorophores (BCFA-008, BCFA-037 ) might be exactly what you need.