Atto fluorescent labels are designed for high sensitivity applications, including single molecule detection. Atto labels have rigid structures th at do not show any cis-trans-isomerization. Thus these labels display exceptional intensity with minimal spectral shift on conjugation. Atto 550 NHS ester is a reagent used to label molecules such as proteins with the Atto 550 fluorescence probe. This probe may be used in the design of fluoresence resonance transfer (FRET) detection systems.