Alexa Fluor™ 488 Tyramide SuperBoost™ Kit, goat anti-rabbit IgG

To limit background, we recommend performing a pre-blocking step with 3% H2O2 for 60 mins to inactivate endogenous peroxidases. To limit the localization of labeling, we recommend optimizing the final concentration of the primary and secondary antibodies and the dye-tyramide. You may also limit the incubation time of the dye-tyramide on the sample.

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Yes. This involves the sequential application of the antibodies and the tyramides with a HRP-quenching step between antibodies using H2O2.

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The SuperBoost tyramide kits utilize poly-HRP labeled antibodies. This provides a greater number of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) molecules per antibody. The original kits used antibodies and streptavidin that were directly conjugated with HRP and thus, limited the number per antibody or streptavidin.

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Here are our recommendations:

Use one of our extensive selection of secondary antibodies conjugated to bright, photostable Alexa Fluor dyes. The degree of labeling for each conjugate is 2-8 fluorophores per IgG molecule, with potentially three secondary antibody-binding sites per primary antibody, providing signal amplification of approximately 10-20 fluorophores per primary antibody.
Alternatively, primary antibody labeling can be detected with a biotinylated secondary antibody in conjunction with either a fluorescent streptavidin or a streptavidin bridge followed by a biotinylated reporter such as Qdot biotin. Although processing times increase with additional incubation and endogenous biotin-blocking steps, detection sensitivity also improves as a result of the labeled streptavidin.
For low-abundance targets, signal amplification may be necessary for optimal signal-to-noise ratios. Tyramide signal amplification (TSA) is an enzyme-mediated detection method that utilizes the catalytic activity of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to generate reactive fluorophore-labeled tyramide radicals. These short-lived tyramide radicals covalently couple to nearby residues, producing an amplified fluorescent signal localized at the HRP-target interaction site.
For improved detection sensitivity with rapidly bleaching dyes, our SlowFade Diamond or ProLong Diamond antifade reagents have been shown to increase photostability and reduce initial fluorescence quenching in fixed cells, fixed tissues, and cell-free preparations.
Please review this web page for further optimization tips (https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/references/newsletters-and-journals/bioprobes-journal-of-cell-biology-applications/bioprobes-issues-2011/bioprobes-66-october-2011/guide-to-immunocytochemistry.html).

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A common method for amplifying antibody detection is biotin-streptavidin detection, where a biotinylated secondary antibody is combined with subsequent labeling with a dye-conjugated streptavidin. This will amplify the signal by approximately 2-8 times, but endogenous biotin must be blocked beforehand. Another option is to use tyramide-signal amplification, where a horseradish peroxidase conjugate is used with a dye-labeled tyramide. This will amplify the signal by approximately 10-20 times, but endogenous peroxidase will need to be blocked. A final option may be to use a Qdot nanoparticle antibody or streptavidin conjugate, which can yield a signal as much as 40 times higher than a standard organic dye conjugate, depending on the Qdot color.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Analysis Support Center.