Extended application of flow microfluorometry by means of dual laser excitation

A dual laser beam excitation device for flow analysis of biological particles has been developed. The aid of this arrangement is to increase the range of fluorescent agents employed so far in quantitative and qualitative cytochemistry. Combining an argon ion and a helium-cadmium laser two color fluorescence measurements were performed employing propidium iodide as a DNA stain and fluorescamine which stains total protein in fixed cells. Energy transfer processes between the antibiotic and DNA specific dye mithramycin and propidium iodide both being bound to nuclear chromatin were analyzed. Utilization of energy transfer processes is generally discussed as a mean to extract information about the structure and conformation of nuclear chromatin in situ. The application of a crypton ion laser with three lines near 400 nm and a single line at 350 nm having a light output in each range of nearly one Watt gives the opportunity of utilizing DNA fluorochromes which have an excitation maximum in the deep blue region, DNA spectra are shown employing mithramycin, the benzimidazol derivative 33258 (Hoechst) and the indol compound DAPI which has a high DNA specificity combined with a great stability under UV illumination. By separating two focussed laser beams at their intersecting points with the liquid sample stream the trajectory of each flowing cell crosses the beams sequentially, which causes a solitary dual excitation of each cell. The advantages of a solitary excitation device compared with a simultaneous one is discussed.