Carbotrace 540 is our yellow optotracer for labeling repetitive motifs in proteins and carbohydrates. Generally, Carbotrace labeling is strongest with protein aggregates. Homoglucans like cellulose are labeled reliably, albeit with lower quantum yield. Heteroglucans with low degree of branching like starches are labeled and can be distingiushed by their spectral fingerpint. Generally labelling of hemicelluloses is weak or absent. Specifically, Carbotrace 540 has been used to determine the purity of cellulose extracted from macroalgae by allowing analysis of extracted carbohydrates in their polymeric state. In addition, Carbotrace 540 has shown to bind to the hemicellulose xyloglucan.
