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E8751

Sigma-Aldrich

Ethidium bromide

~95% (HPLC)

Synonym(s):

3,8-Diamino-5-ethyl-6-phenylphenanthridinium bromide, EtBr, Homidium bromide

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About This Item

Empirical Formula (Hill Notation):
C21H20BrN3
CAS Number:
1239-45-8
Molecular Weight:
394.31
Beilstein:
3642536
EC Number:
214-984-6
MDL number:
MFCD00011724
UNSPSC Code:
41105322
PubChem Substance ID:
24894683
NACRES:
NB.22
Pricing and availability is not currently available.

Assay

~95% (HPLC)

Quality Level

200

mp

260-262 °C (dec.) (lit.)

SMILES string

[Br-].CC[n+]1c(-c2ccccc2)c3cc(N)ccc3c4ccc(N)cc14

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

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Application

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.

Frameshift mutagen which intercalates double-stranded DNA and RNA.

Biochem/physiol Actions

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.

Reconstitution

For staining a gel after electrophoresis, dilute a sample of the stock solution to 0.5 μg/ml with water and incubate the gel for 15-30 min. 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 μg/ml and visualized immediately after electrophoresis.

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Product No.
Description
Pricing

Pictograms

Skull and crossbonesHealth hazard
GHS06,GHS08

Signal Word

Danger

Hazard Statements

H302,H330,H341

Hazard Classifications

Acute Tox. 1 Inhalation - Acute Tox. 4 Oral - Muta. 2

Storage Class Code

6.1A - Combustible acute toxic Cat. 1 and 2 / very toxic hazardous materials

WGK

WGK 1

Flash Point(F)

Not applicable

Flash Point(C)

Not applicable

Personal Protective Equipment

dust mask type N95 (US), Eyeshields, Gloves

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Certificates of Analysis (COA)

Lot/Batch Number
SHBR4830
SHBQ7920
SHBQ5224
MKCM8424
MKCJ7007

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Ulrich Braunschweig et al.
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Ethidium Bromide

Ethidium bromide is a well-known and widely used fluorescent dye in biotechnology research.

Ethidium Bromide

Ethidium bromide is a well-known and widely used fluorescent dye in biotechnology research.

Questions

1–6 of 6 Questions  

  1. How is shipping temperature determined? And how is it related to the product storage temperature?

    1 answer

    1. Products may be shipped at a different temperature than the recommended long-term storage temperature. If the product quality is sensitive to short-term exposure to conditions other than the recommended long-term storage, it will be shipped on wet or dry-ice. If the product quality is NOT affected by short-term exposure to conditions other than the recommended long-term storage, it will be shipped at ambient temperature. As shipping routes are configured for minimum transit times, shipping at ambient temperature helps control shipping costs for our customers. For more information, please refer to the Storage and Transport Conditions document: https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/deepweb/assets/sigmaaldrich/marketing/global/documents/316/622/storage-transport-conditions-mk.pdf

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  2. How can I determine the shelf life / expiration / retest date of this product?

    1 answer

    1. If this product has an expiration or retest date, it will be shown on the Certificate of Analysis (COA, CofA). If there is no retest or expiration date listed on the product's COA, we do not have suitable stability data to determine a shelf life. For these products, the only date on the COA will be the release date; a retest, expiration, or use-by-date will not be displayed.
      For all products, we recommend handling per defined conditions as printed in our product literature and website product descriptions. We recommend that products should be routinely inspected by customers to ensure they perform as expected.
      For products without retest or expiration dates, our standard warranty of 1 year from the date of shipment is applicable.
      For more information, please refer to the Product Dating Information document: https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/deepweb/assets/sigmaaldrich/marketing/global/documents/449/386/product-dating-information-mk.pdf

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  3. What is the Department of Transportation shipping information for this product?

    1 answer

    1. Transportation information can be found in Section 14 of the product's (M)SDS.To access the shipping information for this material, use the link on the product detail page for the product.

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  4. How can I make a stock solution of Product E8751, Ethidium bromide?

    1 answer

    1. Ethidium bromide is soluble in water at 100 mg/mL. Per Crary, B. and Boyrsenko, M., Biotechniques, 4, 98-101 (1986), stock solutions of ethidium bromide in water or PBS are stable for at least two years at room temperature if protected from light.

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  5. What is the best working concentration of Product E8751, Ethidium bromide?

    1 answer

    1. For staining a gel after electrophoresis, dilute a sample of the stock solution to 0.5 μg/mL with water and incubate the gel for 15-30 min.  Ethidium bromide can also be incorporated into the gel and running buffer at 0.5 μg/mL, and visualized immediately after electrophoresis.

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  6. How can I dispose of solutions containing Product E8751, Ethidium bromide?

    1 answer

    1. Ethidium bromide is mutagenic, and ultimately has to be destroyed by incineration. It can be removed from buffer solutions by several methods to reduce the volume of waste. See the product sheet for more details.

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