Fluorescamine is a spiro compound that is not fluorescent itself, but reacts with primary amines to form highly fluorescent products, i.e. it is fluorogenic.

[3][4] Once bound to protein the excitation wavelength is 381 nm (near ultraviolet) and the emission wavelength is 470 nm (blue).

[5] This method is found to suffer from high blanks resulting from a high rate of hydrolysis due to requiring a large excess concentration.

[6] Alternative methods are based on ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA), Ellman's reagent (DTNB), or epicocconone.

This article about an organic compound is a stub.