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40718

Sigma-Aldrich

Diethyl pyrocarbonate

96% (NT)

Synonym(s):

DEP, DEPC, Diethyl dicarbonate, Diethyl oxydiformate, Ethoxyformic acid anhydride

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About This Item

Linear Formula:
O(COOC2H5)2
CAS Number:
1609-47-8
Molecular Weight:
162.14
Beilstein:
637031
EC Number:
216-542-8
MDL number:
MFCD00009106
UNSPSC Code:
12352100
PubChem Substance ID:
24865430
NACRES:
NA.22

Assay

96% (NT)

form

liquid

color

APHA: ≤20

refractive index

n20/D 1.398 (lit.)
n20/D 1.398

bp

93-94 °C/18 mmHg (lit.)

solubility

95% ethanol: 4.5 g/10 mL, clear, colorless

density

1.121 g/mL at 20 °C
1.101 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.)

shipped in

wet ice

storage temp.

2-8°C

SMILES string

CCOC(=O)OC(=O)OCC

InChI

1S/C6H10O5/c1-3-9-5(7)11-6(8)10-4-2/h3-4H2,1-2H3

InChI key

FFYPMLJYZAEMQB-UHFFFAOYSA-N

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General description

Diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEP) is a bactericidal agent and decomposes in water to CO2 and ethanol. DEP inhibits enzymes such as DNase and RNase without affecting nucleic acids. It is useful for the preparation of mRNA from tissues.

Application

Diethyl pyrocarbonate may be used in the following studies:
  • For the modification of histidyl residues in proteins.
  • As a nuclease inhibitor, for the extraction of undegraded nucleic acids from etiolated and green plant tissues.
  • For the modification of linear and supercoiled plasmid DNAs.
  • As a chemical probe to investigate the secondary structure in negatively supercoiled DNA.
  • For cabethoxylation of histidine residues of actin.
Modification reagent for His and Tyr residues in proteins. Robust probe for structural disruptions in dsDNA, reacting with fully or partially unstacked bases.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Inactivates RNase in solution at about 0.1% (v/v), thus protecting RNA against degradation.

Pictograms

Exclamation mark
GHS07

Signal Word

Warning

Hazard Statements

H302

Precautionary Statements

P264 - P270 - P301 + P312 - P501

Hazard Classifications

Acute Tox. 4 Oral

Storage Class Code

10 - Combustible liquids

WGK

WGK 3

Flash Point(F)

156.2 °F - closed cup

Flash Point(C)

69 °C - closed cup

Personal Protective Equipment

dust mask type N95 (US), Eyeshields, Gloves

Certificates of Analysis (COA)

Search for Certificates of Analysis (COA) by entering the products Lot/Batch Number. Lot and Batch Numbers can be found on a product’s label following the words ‘Lot’ or ‘Batch’.

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Effects of diethyl pyrocarbonate and methyl methanesulfonate on nucleic acids and nucleases.
I Fedorcsák et al.
Acta chemica Scandinavica, 20(1), 107-112 (1966-01-01)
Selective carbethoxylation of the histidine residues of actin by diethylpyrocarbonate.
G Hegyi et al.
European journal of biochemistry, 44(1), 7-12 (1974-05-02)
W Herr
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 82(23), 8009-8013 (1985-12-01)
Purine residues located within regions of DNA that have the potential to form left-handed Z-helical structures are modified preferentially by diethyl pyrocarbonate; this hyperreactivity is dependent on the degree of negative superhelicity of the circular DNA molecules. As negative superhelical
Modification of histidyl residues in proteins by diethylpyrocarbonate.
E W Miles
Methods in enzymology, 47, 431-442 (1977-01-01)
A new method based on the use of diethyl pyrocarbonate as a nuclease inhibitor for the extraction of undegraded nucleic acid from plant tissues.
F Solymosy et al.
European journal of biochemistry, 5(4), 520-527 (1968-09-24)
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