Polymethine dyes as spectral-fluorescent probes for biomacromolecules

It is known that polymethine dyes (PD) can form complexes with biomacromolecules, in which, as a rule. fluorescence buildup is observed. In addition, PD possess a unique property to form ordered aggregates of different types (dimers, H- and J-aggregates) both in the free state and on biomacromolecules as templates. This creates a basis for application of PD as spectral-fluorescent probes for biomacromolecules, which is a matter of this review. Besides, the review is devoted to studies of noncovalent interactions of PD with biomacromolecules: nucleic acids, proteins, and some others. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.