Ethidium bromide solution, 1% in H2O

Specifications

Purity

≥95% (HPLC)

Appearance

Red liquid

Identity

1H-NMR

Concentration

1% in H2O

Properties

Solvents

water, ethanol (slightly)

Density

1.1

Documentation

Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

CDX E0057 MSDS.pdf

Shipping

AMBIENT

Short Term Storage

+4°C

Long Term Storage

+4°C

Handling Advice

Protect from light and moisture.

Use / Stability

Stable for at least 2 years after receipt when stored at +4°C.

Hazard statements

H331-H341

Precautionary statements

P202 - P261 - P271 - P280 - P304 + P340 + P311 - P308 + P313

GHS Symbol

GHS06+GHS08

Signal word

Danger

RIDADR

UN2810

Transportation

Packing Group III

Description

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 ?g/ml). Ethidium bromide has been used in a number of fluorimetric assays for nucleic acids. Ethidium bromide intercalates double-stranded DNA and RNA and acts as a frameshift mutagen. It confers a deep red stain to DNA by acting as an intercalating agent between the starch bases. 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. It can be used in conjunction with acridine orange to differentiate between viable, apoptotic and necrotic cells. Has been used in the past as an anti-parasitic and anti-microbial agent and described as an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation. Has also been used to stain mitochondrial DNA. For staining a gel after electrophoresis, dilute a sample of the stock solution to 0.5 ?g/ml with water and incubate the gel for 15-30 ≥ Destaining is usually not needed but can be carried out in water for 15 min if decreased background is necessary. The DNA bands can then be detected on a UV light box (254 nm wavelength). Ethidium bromide can also be incorporated into the gel and running buffer at 0.5 ?g/ml and visualized immediately after electrophoresis. Spectral data: λex=480nm, λem=620nm (in H2O). λex=518nm, λem=605nm (bound to DNA). λex=530nm, λem=600nm (in 50mM phosphate buffer pH 7.0, upon binding to DNA). This is a 10mg/mL easy-to-use solution of ethidium bromide in specially filtered, deionized water which is excellent for nucleic acid electrophoresis and purification applications, eliminates the dust hazard associated with powdered ethidium bromide and saves time spent on weighing and mixing.

Smiles

NC1=CC(C(C2=CC=CC=C2)=[N+](CC)C3=C4C=CC(N)=C3)=C4C=C1.[Br-]

InChi Key

ZMMJGEGLRURXTF-UHFFFAOYSA-N

References

(1) L.J. Eron & B.R. McAuslan, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 114, 633 (1966) , (2) J.A. Donkersloot, et al., Appl. Microbiol. 24, 179 (1972) , (3) J.B. Le Pecq, Methods Biochem. Anal. 20, 41 (1971) (Review) , (4) J.C. Stockert, Naturwissenschaften 61, 363 (1974) , (5) M. Miko & B. Chance, FEBS Lett. 54, 347 (1975) , (6) A.R. Morgan, et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 7, 547 (1979) (Review) , (7) A.R. Morgan, et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 7, 571 (1979) (Review) , (8) A. Vincent & K. Scherrer, Mol. Biol. Rep. 5, 209 (1979) , (9) W.A. Franklin & J.D. Locker, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 29, 572 (1981) , (10) S. de Jong, et al., Int. J. Cancer 37, 557 (1986) , (11) D.W. Gray & P.J. Morris, Stain Technol. 62, 373 (1987) , (12) E.A. Ribeiro, et al., Anal. Biochem. 181, 197 (1989) , (13) P. Borst, IUBMB Life 57, 745 (2005) (Review) , (14) A.M. Villa & S.M. Doglia, Eur. J. Cancer. 45, 2588 (2009) , (15) A.M. Villa, et al., J. Biomed. Opt. 17, 046001 (2012)