DEPC can be solubilized in 95% ethanol, e.g. 1.6 mL in 4 mL ethanol gives a clear, colorless solution. DEPC is soluble in alcohols, esters, ketones and other hydrocarbons, but has limited solubility in water (~0.1%). 6 DEPC hydrolyzes in aqueous solution, to form ethanol and carbon dioxide (CO2). Typically a 0.1% DEPC solution (1 mL of DEPC diluted in water to 1 L) is used to inactivate RNase. The DEPC will not immediately dissolve, as evidenced by the appearance of globules. The mixture should be stirred until the globules disappear. DEPC is sensitive to pH. In phosphate buffer at 25 °C, its half-life is 4 minutes at pH 6, and 9 minutes at pH 7. Hydrolysis is accelerated by Tris buffer,7 where at 25 °C, the half-life of DEPC was reported to be 1.25 minutes at pH 7.5, and 0.37 minutes at pH 8.2. DEPC will decompose in solution when autoclaved. For 0.1% DEPC solutions, autoclaving for 15 minutes per liter should be sufficient.
DEPC is very sensitive to moisture. As such, DEPC is packaged under argon to help reduce exposure to moisture. If DEPC is exposed to even traces of moisture, some hydrolysis occurs. The resulting CO2 is more soluble in DEPC solutions at 2–8 °C than at room temperature. As the product is brought to room temperature before opening, the DEPC can become supersaturated with respect to any dissolved gas. After opening the bottle for the first time and each time thereafter, layer nitrogen or argon gas over the DEPC and store the closed bottle at 2–8 °C for optimal stability. It may be helpful to store the bottle inside a sealed plastic bag with desiccant, but with the bottle cap slightly loose. If the bag inflates at all, this indicates some degree of decomposition with possible pressure build-up. Once opened, the bottle should not be kept for more than 9 months. DEPC decomposes at 155 °C. DEPC is also sensitive to ammonia, which causes decomposition to urethane.
40718
Diethyl pyrocarbonate
96% (NT)
Synonym(s):
DEP, DEPC, Diethyl dicarbonate, Diethyl oxydiformate, Ethoxyformic acid anhydride
Sign Into View Organizational & Contract Pricing
Select a Size
5 ML
$85.20
25 ML
$172.00
100 ML
$569.00
250 ML
$1,040.00
All Photos(1)
Select a Size
Change View
5 ML
$85.20
25 ML
$172.00
100 ML
$569.00
250 ML
$1,040.00
About This Item
Linear Formula:
O(COOC2H5)2
CAS Number:
Molecular Weight:
162.14
Beilstein/REAXYS Number:
637031
EC Number:
MDL number:
UNSPSC Code:
12352100
PubChem Substance ID:
NACRES:
NA.22
Recommended Products
Quality Level
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.)
functional group
carbonate
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
Looking for similar products? Visit Product Comparison Guide
Related Categories
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.[1]
Application
Diethyl pyrocarbonate may be used in the following studies:
- For the modification of histidyl residues in proteins.[2]
- As a nuclease inhibitor, for the extraction of undegraded nucleic acids from etiolated and green plant tissues.[3]
- For the modification of linear and supercoiled plasmid DNAs.[4]
- As a chemical probe to investigate the secondary structure in negatively supercoiled DNA.[4]
- For cabethoxylation of histidine residues of actin.[5]
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.
signalword
Warning
hcodes
Hazard Classifications
Acute Tox. 4 Oral
Storage Class
10 - Combustible liquids
wgk_germany
WGK 3
flash_point_f
156.2 °F - closed cup
flash_point_c
69 °C - closed cup
ppe
Eyeshields, Faceshields, Gloves, type ABEK (EN14387) respirator filter
Choose from one of the most recent versions:
Already Own This Product?
Find documentation for the products that you have recently purchased in the Document Library.
Customers Also Viewed
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)
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)
Modification of histidyl residues in proteins by diethylpyrocarbonate.
E W Miles
Methods in enzymology, 47, 431-442 (1977-01-01)
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
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)
-
What is the solubility and solution stability of Diethyl pyrocarbonate, DEPC?
1 answer-
Helpful?
-
Active Filters
Our team of scientists has experience in all areas of research including Life Science, Material Science, Chemical Synthesis, Chromatography, Analytical and many others.
Contact Technical Service
