Synonyms:
3,8-Diamino-5-ethyl-6-phenylphenanthridin-5-ium bromide
, 3,8-Diamino-5-ethyl-6-phenylphenanthridinium bromide
0219020225
0219020210
0219020201
0219020205
IC19020201EA
40.41
USD
InStock
IC19020201
IC19020210
IC19020205
IC19020225
Ethidium bromide, powder
Ethidium bromide
Ethidium bromide (EtBr) is the most commonly used nucleic acid stain for PAGE or agarose gel electrophoresis.
The fluorescence of EtBr increases 21-fold upon binding to double-stranded RNA and 25-fold on binding double-stranded DNA so that destaining the background is not necessary with a low stain concentration (10 µg/ml). Ethidium bromide has been used in a number of fluorimetric assays for nucleic acids. It has been shown to bind to single-stranded DNA (although not as strongly) and triple-stranded DNA. Because of its ability to bind to DNA, EtBr is an inhibitor of DNA polymerase. Also acts as an RNA polymerase inhibitor, and in separation of high molecular weight DNA's. Confers a deep red stain to DNA by acting as an intercalating agent between the starch bases. Subsequent fluorescence techniques enable the extraction and characterisation of DNA bands.
Ethidium bromide intercalates double-stranded DNA and RNA and acts as a frameshift mutagen. It can also be used in conjunction with acridine orange to differentiate between viable, apoptotic and necrotic cells.
Soluble in water (10mg/mL), Slightly soluble in ethanol; partially soluble in chloroform. Ethidium bromide can also be incorporated into the gel and running buffer at 0.5 µg/mL and visualized immediately after electrophoresis.
Fluorescence: λex 480 nm; λem 620 nm in H2O; λex 530 nm; λem 600 nm in 50 mM phosphate buffer pH 7.0 (upon binding to DNA).