Biochem/physiol Actions
NeuroSensor 521 is a fluorescent turn-on sensor designed for the selective visualization of norepinephrine over epinephrine in fixed and live cells and the fluorescence is not affected by fixation. NeuroSensor 521 binds to all primary amines, but binds catecholamines such as dopamine and norepinephrine more tightly than other biogenic amines such as glutamate and does not interact with secondary amines such as epinephrine. Because of the spectral properties of NeuroSensor 521, the unbound and bound states can be monitored using 440 and 488 nm excitation, respectively. In chromaffin cells NeuroSensor 521 stained the norepinephrine-containing cells preferentially over epinephrine-containing cells under identical conditions.
