A fluorescent dye and DNA intercalator
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Ethidium (bromide)

Item No. 39132

Product Insert (PDF)Safety Data Sheet (SDS) (PDF)
Technical Information
Formal Name
3,8-diamino-5-ethyl-6-phenyl-phenanthridinium, monobromide
CAS Number
1239-45-8
Synonyms
  • Dromilac
  • Homidium Bromide
Molecular Formula
C21H20N3 • Br
Formula Weight
394.3
Purity
≥95%
Emission
595 nm
Excitation
525 nm
Formulation (Request formulation change)
A solid
Solubility(Learn about Variance in Solubility)
DMSO: 10 mg/ml
SMILES
CC[N+]1=C(C=C2N)C(C=C2)=C(C=C3)C(C=C3N)=C1C4=CC=CC=C4.[Br-]
InChi Code
InChI=1S/C21H19N3.BrH/c1-2-24-20-13-16(23)9-11-18(20)17-10-8-15(22)12-19(17)21(24)14-6-4-3-5-7-14;/h3-13,23H,2,22H2,1H3;1H
InChi Key
ZMMJGEGLRURXTF-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Shipping & Storage Information
Storage
-20°C
Shipping
Room temperature in continental US; may vary elsewhere
Certificates of Analysis & Batch Specific Data

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    1 g

    $50

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    Product Description

    Ethidium is a phenanthridine fluorescent dye and DNA intercalator.1,2 It displays an emission at 595 nm upon excitation at 525 nm.1 Ethidium inhibits the DNA-unwinding and ATPase activities of P. falciparum DNA helicase (IC50s = 1.5 and 2.5 µM, respectively) and is active against P. falciparum in vitro.3 It completely inhibits E. coli RNA polymerase when used at a concentration of 100 µmol/ml and is active against Mycoplasma when used at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 8 µg/ml.4,5 Ethidium (8 mg/kg) increases lifespan in 6C3HED-OG and L5178Y murine lymphoma models.6 It has commonly been used to stain DNA in agarose gel electrophoresis and in displacement assays to determine compound binding to DNA.7,8

    WARNING This product is not for human or veterinary use.

    References & Product Citations
    Product Description References

    1. Qiao, C., Bi, S., Sun, Y., et al. Study of interactions of anthraquinones with DNA using ethidium bromide as a fluorescence probe. Spectrochim. Acta A Mol. Biomol. Spectrosc. 70(1), 136-143 (2008).

    2. Meyer-Almes, F.J., and Porschke, D. Mechanism of intercalation into the DNA double helix by ethidium. Biochemistry 32(16), 4246-4253 (1993).

    3. Pradhan, A., and Tuteja, R. Plasmodium falciparum DNA helicase 60. dsRNA- and antibody-mediated inhibition of malaria parasite growth and downregulation of its enzyme activities by DNA-interacting compounds. FEBS J. 273(15), 3545-3556 (2006).

    4. Ward, D.C., Reich, E., and Goldberg, I.H. Base specificity in the interaction of polynucleotides with antibiotic drugs. Science 149(3689), 1259-1263 (1965).

    5. Newnham, A.G., and Chu, H.P. An in vitro comparison of the effect of some antibacterial, antifungal and antiprotozoal agents on various strains of Mycoplasma (pleuropneumonia-like organisms: P.P.L.O.). J. Hyg. (Lond) 63(1), 1-23 (1965).

    6. Nishiwaki, H., Miura, M., Imai, K., et al. Experimental studies on the antitumor effect of ethidium bromide and related substances. Cancer Res. 34(10), 2699-2703 (1974).

    7. Wahl, G.M., Stern, M., and Stark, G.R. Efficient transfer of large DNA fragments from agarose gels to diazobenzyloxymethyl-paper and rapid hybridization by using dextran sulfate. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 76(8), 3683-3687 (1979).

    8. Burres, N.S., Frigo, A., Rasmussen, R.R., et al. A colorimetric microassay for the detection of agents that interact with DNA. J. Nat. Prod. 55(11), 1582-1587 (1992).