Spirochrome

Spirochrome – Advanced Live-Cell Imaging Probes

Spirochrome is a Swiss biotechnology company specializing in live-cell fluorogenic probes for visualizing cytoskeletal structures, DNA, and various organelles in real time. The portfolio includes the renowned SiR™, SiR700™, and SPY™ probes, enabling high-resolution imaging of F-actin, microtubules, DNA, lysosomes, Golgi, peroxisomes, and more.

Spirochrome probes allow researchers to visualize endogenous cellular structures using a simple “add & image” workflow, eliminating the need for genetic modification or transfection.

About Spirochrome

Founded in Switzerland, Spirochrome AG develops innovative, cell-permeable fluorescent probes designed for live-cell bioimaging. The company’s mission is to provide simple, reliable, and highly sensitive tools for researchers studying cellular dynamics.

The flagship SiR-actin, SiR-tubulin, and SiR-DNA probes are widely used in biological research, offering far-red, fluorogenic, and low-toxicity solutions for live-cell imaging across confocal, spinning disk, STED, and SIM microscopy platforms.

Technology

1. SiR™ (Silicon Rhodamine) Fluorogenic Probes

SiR™ probes are based on silicon rhodamine dyes with excitation/emission in the far-red region (e.g., 652/674 nm, 689/716 nm), minimizing autofluorescence and phototoxicity. These probes provide a high signal-to-background ratio through fluorogenic activation upon target binding.

  • Cell-permeable and fluorogenic
  • Low phototoxicity and high photostability
  • Ideal for live-cell imaging of actin, tubulin, DNA, lysosomes, and organelles
  • Compatible with GFP, RFP, mCherry, and multicolor imaging workflows
  • STED and SIM super-resolution compatible

2. SPY™ Probes – Visible Spectrum Live-Cell Probes

SPY™ probes extend Spirochrome’s fluorogenic technology to the visible spectrum, covering green, orange, red, and far-red channels. Examples include SPY555-actin, SPY620-actin, SPY650-tubulin, SPY-DNA.

  • Bright and photostable fluorogenic probes
  • Non-toxic and suitable for long-term live imaging
  • Available in multiple wavelengths for multicolor experiments
  • Compatible with STED/SIM super-resolution techniques

3. Advanced & Specialized Probes

Spirochrome also develops specialized probes for emerging microscopy approaches such as Ultrastructure Expansion Microscopy (U-ExM) and Cryo-ExM. Products like HAK-actin™ enable nanoscale visualization of cellular structures after expansion.

Key Features

  • Fluorogenic signal enhancement for low-background imaging
  • Cell-permeable and easy to use—simply add to cells
  • Low toxicity for long-term imaging and time-lapse studies
  • No genetic manipulation required
  • Multiple wavelength options for multicolor imaging
  • Compatible with confocal, spinning disk, STED, SIM, and light-sheet microscopes
  • Automation-friendly for high-content imaging

Why Choose Spirochrome?

  • High cell viability Reduced phototoxicity enables long-term live-cell tracking.
  • High reproducibility Well-optimized concentrations ensure consistent staining across cell lines.
  • Multitarget capability Allows simultaneous imaging of actin, tubulin, DNA, and multiple organelles.
  • Broad microscope compatibility From standard epifluorescence to STED and SIM super-resolution systems.
  • Optimized for automation Suitable for high-content and high-throughput imaging workflows.

Applications

  • Live imaging of cytoskeletal structures (F-actin, microtubules)
  • Live-cell DNA and chromatin visualization
  • Organelle tracking: lysosomes, Golgi, peroxisomes
  • Super-resolution imaging (STED, SIM)
  • Time-lapse imaging of cellular dynamics
  • Low-toxicity labeling of primary and sensitive cell types

Representative Products

1. SiR™ Probe Series – Far-Red Live-Cell Probes

  • SiR-actin (SC001) Fluorogenic probe targeting F-actin for high-resolution cytoskeleton imaging.
  • SiR-tubulin (SC002) Live-cell microtubule probe for dynamic microtubule network visualization.
  • SiR-DNA (SC007) Far-red nuclear DNA stain for low-background live-cell imaging.
  • SiR700 series Near-infrared probes for deep imaging and multicolor applications.

2. SPY™ Probe Series – Visible Spectrum Probes

  • SPY555-actin / SPY620-actin Bright actin probes ideal for multicolor live-cell imaging.
  • SPY650-tubulin / SPY700-tubulin Far-red and near-IR microtubule probes with high photostability.
  • SPY595-DNA / SPY620-DNA / SPY650-DNA / SPY700-DNA Multi-wavelength nuclear staining options.
  • SPY-FastAct™ series Designed for fast and highly dynamic actin structure imaging.

3. Organelle & Membrane Probes

  • SiR-lysosome / Lyso Flipper-TR Probes for lysosome imaging and membrane tension analysis.
  • SPY650-Golgi / Peroxi_SPY650 Fast-staining probes for Golgi and peroxisome visualization.

4. Expansion Microscopy Tools

  • HAK-actin™ Specialized probe for U-ExM and Cryo-ExM, enabling nanoscale structure preservation during expansion.

Contact & Ordering

For quotations, availability, and technical support regarding Spirochrome products, please contact us. We can assist you in selecting the most suitable SiR™ / SiR700™ / SPY™ probe based on your target structure, imaging platform, and experimental design.