Ethidium Bromide
- Ethidium bromide is used to visualize DNA in agarose gels and in many cesium chloride gradient protocols.
- Ethidium bromide is a toxic chemical and a mutagen. It causes eye and skin irritation.
- Wear gloves at all times and wash contaminated skin with water.
- May be stored indefinitely in a lightproof container at room temperature
- Ethidium Bromide Appearance: Red to purple powder
- Molecular formula: C21H20N3Br
- Molecular weight: 394.3
- Melting point: 255-266°C with decomposition
Ethidium Bromide Solution use
- Ethidium bromide is commonly used nucleic acid stain for gel electrophoresis.
- As a stain to visualize U937 cells to assess cell viability
- Use to detect polymerase chain reaction products
- In agarose gel electrophoresis based gel retardation assa.
Components for Ethidium Bromide Solution
The following components are required to prepare 1L of Ethidium Bromide Solution
| Component | Amount | Concentration |
| Ethidium bromide (mw: 394.31 g/mol) | 10 g | 0.0254 M |
Ethidium Bromide Solution Preparation
- Prepare 800 mL of distilled water in a suitable container.
- Add 10 g of Ethidium bromide to the solution.
- Add distilled water until volume is 1 L.
- Stir on a magnetic stirrer for several hours to ensure that the dye has dissolved. Wrap the container in aluminum foil or transfer the 10 mg/mL solution to a dark bottle and store at room temperature.
References
- “Ethidium Bromide Solution Preparation.” AAT Bioquest, Inc, 26 May. 2021, https://www.aatbio.com/resources/buffer-preparations-and-recipes/ethidium-bromide.
- https://www.bio-rad.com/webroot/web/pdf/lsr/literature/4006020b.pdf
- https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/content/dam/sigma-aldrich/docs/Sigma/Product_Information_Sheet/e1385pis.pdf
- https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/sigma/e1510?lang=en®ion=IN
