DNA Staining Reagents for Agarose Gel Electrophoresis

Agarose gel electrophoresis is one of the most common methods used to size-separate and analyze DNA. The nucleotides that make up DNA carry a negative charge due to their phosphate groups, and are therefore attracted to the anode when run on an agarose gel. As the DNA moves through the gaps in the mesh of the agarose gel, longer molecules, with larger molecular weights, move more slowly, while smaller molecules are able to move more quickly. This method, of separating molecules by size on a gel using electricity, is known as gel electrophoresis.¹⁾ Ethidium bromide is widely used as a DNA staining agent with agarose gels and can detect DNA with high sensitivity through visualization using UV light.²⁾ However, its carcinogenicity¹⁾ means it must be handled with care. Ethidium bromide (0.5mg/mL in water) comes in a dropper bottle pre-dissolved, making it safe and easy to use. For customers wishing to avoid the use of ethidium bromide, we also offer 10X nucleic acid stain blue, which stains DNA blue, making it detectable without a special apparatus.

Related Products

E1363

Ethidium Bromide (0.5mg/mL in Water) (in Dropper Bottle) [for Electrophoresis]

N1209

10X Nucleic Acid Stain Blue [for Electrophoresis]

L0393

6X Loading Buffer Bromophenol Blue [for Electrophoresis] [for Molecular Biology] (1 mL×3)

L0440

6X Loading Buffer Double BX [for Electrophoresis] [for Molecular Biology] (1 mL×3)

E0370

Ethidium Bromide

References

• 1) Agarose Gel Electrophoresis for the Separation of DNA Fragments
  • P. Y. Lee, J. Costumbrado, C.-Y. Hsu, Y. H. Kim, J. Vis. Exp. 2012, 62, 3923.
• 2) Detection of DNA in Agarose Gels
  • J. F. Sambrook, D. W. Russell, in Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 3rd ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York, 2001, vol 1, Chap. 5, 14.

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