EVOS LED Light Cubes & Fluorophore Compatibility Chart
The EVOS M3000 uses interchangeable LED light cubes that snap into place with automatic recognition. Each cube contains hard-coated excitation/emission filters matched to specific fluorophores. Use this guide to select the right cube for your experiment.
Available LED Light Cubes
| Light Cube | Excitation (nm) | Emission (nm) | Common Fluorophores | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAPI | 357 | 447 | DAPI, Hoechst 33342, Hoechst 33258 | Nuclear staining, DNA visualization |
| GFP | 482 | 524 | GFP, Alexa Fluor 488, FITC, SYBR Green | Protein expression, transfection markers |
| RFP | 542 | 593 | mCherry, dsRed, Alexa Fluor 546, Cy3, TRITC | Red fluorescent proteins, co-localization |
| Texas Red | 585 | 628 | Texas Red, Alexa Fluor 594, Alexa Fluor 568 | Deep red imaging, secondary antibodies |
| Cy5 | 635 | 692 | Cy5, Alexa Fluor 647, Alexa Fluor 660 | Far-red imaging, multiplexing (5+ colors) |
Common Fluorophore Applications
🧬 Nucleic Acid Stains
- DAPI — Nuclear counterstain (blue)
- Hoechst 33342 — Live cell DNA (blue)
- SYBR Green — dsDNA detection (green)
- Propidium Iodide — Dead cells (red)
🧪 Protein Labels
- GFP — Green fluorescent protein
- mCherry — Red fluorescent protein
- YFP — Yellow fluorescent protein
- CFP — Cyan fluorescent protein
🔬 Antibody Conjugates
- FITC — Green (use GFP cube)
- Cy3 — Orange/red (use RFP cube)
- Cy5 — Far red (use Cy5 cube)
- Alexa Fluor 488 — Bright green
📊 Functional Assays
- Calcein AM — Live cells (green)
- Ethidium Homodimer — Dead cells (red)
- JC-1 — Mitochondrial membrane potential
- EdU — Cell proliferation (varies by kit)
Multi-Channel Imaging Combinations
The EVOS M3000 has a 2-position chamber for fluorescent LED cubes. For experiments requiring more than 2 colors, cubes can be swapped mid-session in under 10 seconds.
Recommended 2-Color Pairs
- 🟦 DAPI + GFP — Nuclear + protein expression (most common)
- 🟩 GFP + RFP — Co-transfection studies
- 🟦 DAPI + RFP — Nuclear + red protein marker
- 🟩 GFP + Texas Red — Green + deep red antibody
LED vs Mercury: Why the Cube System Wins
| Feature | EVOS LED Cubes | Traditional Mercury Filters |
|---|---|---|
| Lifespan | 50,000 hours | 200-300 hours (bulb) |
| Cost per hour | ~£0.01/hour | ~£2.50/hour (bulb replacement) |
| Switching time | 5 seconds (automated) | Manual filter wheel rotation |
| Intensity stability | ±1% over lifetime | Declines 50% over 200 hours |
| Photobleaching | Minimal — adjustable intensity | Severe — fixed high intensity |
Custom LED Cubes
Need a specific wavelength? Thermo Fisher offers custom LED cube fabrication for specialized fluorophores not covered by standard cubes. Typical turnaround: 4-6 weeks. Contact your local representative for spectral design consultation.
Ready to Configure Your EVOS?
See the full EVOS M3000 review with pricing, specifications, and real-world performance data.
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