About hCG beta
This gene is a member of the glycoprotein hormone beta chain family and encodes the beta 3 subunit of chorionic gonadotropin (CG). Glycoprotein hormones are heterodimers consisting of a common alpha subunit and an unique beta subunit which confers biological specificity. CG is produced by the trophoblastic cells of the placenta and stimulates the ovaries to synthesize the steroids that are essential for the maintenance of pregnancy. The beta subunit of CG is encoded by 6 genes which are arranged in tandem and inverted pairs on chromosome 19q13.3 and contiguous with the luteinizing hormone beta subunit gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

About Alexa Fluor 555
Alexa Fluor™ 555 (AF555, Alexa 555) has an excitation peak at 555 nm and an emission peak at 565 nm, and is spectrally similar to Cy®3 (GE Healthcare), TRITC, iFluor® 555 (ATT Bioquest) and iFluor® 560 (ATT Bioquest). Many flow cytometers are equipped with 532nm lasers, so while Alexa 555 can be used for flow cytometry, PE is more commonly used due to its brightness and spectral characteristics. This dye is commonly used for fluorescence microscopy applications.