Molar mass 504.66 g/mol | ||
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Visualizing dna using sybr safe stain
SYBR Safe is a cyanine dye used as a nucleic acid stain in molecular biology. SYBR Safe is one of a number of SYBR dyes made by the Life Technologies Corporation. SYBR Safe binds to DNA. The resulting DNA-dye-complex absorbs blue light (λmax = 509 nm) and emits green light (λmax = 524 nm).
Contents
Indirecte visualisatie van de gel met sybr safe
Uses
SYBR Safe is most commonly used as a DNA stain for identifying DNA in agarose gels.
Safety
SYBR Safe is a safer alternative to the known mutagen ethidium bromide. Although it is still a carcinogen, as it binds DNA just like ethidium bromide. However the dilution of SYBR safe in the solvent DMSO allows for its passage into living cells which ethidium bromide is unable to do thus making SYBR safe in fact more dangerous to use than ethidium bromide. However, as the molecule itself is quite a bit larger than ethidium bromide, it does not bind to the column of a gel extraction as easily, making it less efficient when trying to clone a DNA fragment into a plasmid. Interestingly, SYBR Safe is has a very similar structure to thiazole orange, which has a methyl group attached to the charged nitrogen, whereas SYBR Safe has an N-propyl group. Thiazole Orange has been shown to be three to four times less mutagenic than ethidium bromide whereas SYBR Safe is four to five less mutagenic. Additionally, according to the Life Technologies website, SYBR Safe is not lethal in rats at doses as high as 5 g/kg, and rats don't show symptoms of acute toxicity. Thiazole orange does show toxicity at this dose.