3546-21-2

Usage

Uses

Used in Biotechnology Industry:
Ethidium is used as a staining agent for visualizing double-stranded DNA and RNA. Its fluorescence properties allow for the detection and analysis of nucleic acids in various applications, such as gel electrophoresis, fluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry.
Used in Research and Diagnostics:
Ethidium is used as a research tool for studying the structure, function, and interactions of nucleic acids. It aids in the identification and quantification of DNA and RNA molecules, as well as in the investigation of gene expression and regulation.
Used in Quality Control and Validation:
Ethidium is used in quality control processes to ensure the integrity and purity of nucleic acid samples. Its fluorescence allows for the rapid assessment of sample quality, which is crucial for accurate experimental results and reliable data interpretation.

Upstream product

• 1314080-94-8 hydroethidine 
• 104821-25-2 dihydroethidium 
• 1250257-79-4 C₂₁H₂₀⁽²⁾HN₃ 

Downstream Products

• 535969-78-9 3-Amino-5-ethyl-6-phenyl-8-[2-((R)-2-phenyl-[1,3]dioxan-4-yl)-acetylamino]-phenanthridinium 

Relevant academic research and scientific papers

A Redox-Based Superoxide Generation System Using Quinone/Quinone Reductase

Superoxide (O2.?) generation in biological systems is achieved through some of the most complex enzymatic systems. Of these, only xanthine/xanthine oxidase has been used for in vitro biochemical studies. However, it suffers from limitations such as a lack of suitable heterologous expression system for xanthine oxidase and the irreversible consumption and low solubility of xanthine under physiological conditions. Herein, we report a redox-based, enzyme-catalyzed system, in which autoxidation of hydroquinone to quinone via semiquinone results in superoxide generation. Quinone is reduced back to hydroquinone by using the NfsB (oxygen-insensitive nitroreductase) enzyme of Escherichia coli strain K-12 and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydride (NADPH; which is regenerated by using the glucose/glucose dehydrogenase system). This new system relies on quinones that can be recycled and have superior water solubility, as well as enzymes that are heterologously expressed. By using a variety of quinones and reaction conditions, along with a comparison of real-time fluorescence, menadione has been identified as the optimal substrate for superoxide generation. The new redox-based system presents a viable alternative for studying the biochemistry of superoxide under different physiological and pathological conditions.

Quenching and generation of singlet oxygen by hydroethidine and related chromophores

We have found that the oxidative probe hydroethidine (HE) is an efficient 1O2 quencher with kq = 1.1 × 109 M-1 s-1 in CH3CN. The structurally related MitoSOX Red had kq/sub

Hydroethidine as a probe for measuring superoxide formation rates during air oxidation of myricetin and quercetin

In the presence of the flavonols myricetin and quercetin, oxidation of hydroethidine (HE) by superoxide yielded ethidium (E+) instead of 2-hydroxyethidium (2-OH-E+). As a known pro-oxidant, myricetin alone was also found to be able to catalyze air oxidation of HE yielding exclusively E+. The reaction is inhibited by added superoxide dismutase, suggesting that superoxide is involved in the rate limiting step of the oxidation.

A significant improvement of the efficacy of radical oxidant probes by the kinetic isotope effect

A breath of fresh air: The rate of aerial oxidation of dihydroethidium and hydrocyanine radical oxidant probes can be selectively reduced by deuteration (see picture). The reaction rate between the deuterated compounds and the superoxide radical was reduced by a much smaller factor because of mechanistic differences between the two reactions.