Chromosome-specific paint system

Star*FISH and Chromotrax paint systems are highly chromosome specific and provide good, even coverage of the chromosome, unlike paints based on cloned libraries. This is because they are prepared from DOP-PCR*-amplified DNA obtained from flow-sorted chromosomes.

The Star*FISH system paints are labelled with FITC, Cy3 or biotin. The latter allows use of any fluorochrome coupled to streptavidin, and with the Dual-Colour Painting Kits, several different chromosomes can be visualised simultaneously. Chromotrax's complementary range of arm and band paints are directly labelled with either FITC, Rhodamine or Texas Red.

Star*FISH whole chromosome paints are available in concentrated form for performing multiple staining experiments. This prevents the possible reduction of signal encountered when multiple paints are applied to the same slide. These probes are supplied with separate hybridisation buffer to allow optimisation of each experiment. They have been used successfully with Star*FISH pan-centromeric probes, and up to four probes can be hybridised to each slide.