1. Comparative analysis of the DNA staining efficiencies of different fluorescent dyes in preparative agarose gel electrophoresis.
- Author
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Qing Huang and Wei-Ling Fu
- Subjects
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DNA , *STAINS & staining (Microscopy) , *DEOXYRIBOSE , *NUCLEIC acids , *GEL electrophoresis , *ELECTROPHORESIS , *NUCLEIC acid analysis - Abstract
Ethidium bromide (EB) is a mutagen and toxin that is widely used in the laboratory for visualization of nucleic acids. Safer nucleic acid stains, such as SYBR® Gold, SYBR® Green, GoldView™, GeneFinder®, and GoldStar®, have been developed. However, there has been no systematic comparative analysis of the staining efficiencies of these dyes. In the present study, SYBR® Gold, SYBR® Green I, GoldView™ and EB were compared. Although both SYBR® Gold and SYBR® Green alter electrophoretic mobility and thus DNA size estimates, they are cost-effective alternatives to EB. SYBR® Gold was more sensitive than SYBR® Green I at detecting short fragments, but 50-bp bands were clearly visible using either dye when visualized with a long integration time. SYBR® Gold or SYBR® Green I are sensitive and relatively safe alternatives to EB. In our laboratory, the SYBR® Gold method is now used routinely by all members of our group with great consistency and success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2005
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