Hello Huajiao Xu

You should go for Alexa Fluor 488 to stain the Na-K pump because it provides brighter and more durable signals compared to alternatives like FITC, reducing the need for high concentrations of the dye or extended exposure to light. This is crucial for detecting the Na-K pump, which is often present in relatively low abundance in cells.

The excitation and emission spectra of Alexa Fluor 488 are well-suited for common fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry instruments. It is water soluble, and its pH insensitivity ensures stable fluorescence across a wide range of conditions.

Alternatively, you could use Alexa Fluor 594 which is known for its high fluorescence quantum yield, meaning it emits a lot of light for a given amount of excitation making it easier to detect the Na-K pump, even in samples with low protein abundance. It is relatively resistant to photobleaching, which would be crucial if you are planning for experiments where you need to observe the Na-K pump over an extended period.

Best,

Thank you very much, your advice means a lot to me.@Malcolm Nobre