PICO green | CAS 178918-98-4

PICO green is a highly fluorescent nucleic acid stain designed for sensitive quantification of double-stranded DNA in solution. Its strong fluorescence response upon binding to dsDNA makes it widely used in nucleic acid analysis workflows where convenient, plate-based readout is required. The dye's performance in aqueous assay buffers and compatibility with standard fluorescence plate readers support applications in DNA quantification, monitoring, and assay development.

1. dsDNA Quantification Assays

PICO green is routinely used by molecular biology and assay development teams to quantify double-stranded DNA in microplate formats, including standard curve-based measurements for unknown samples. Researchers use it to monitor DNA concentration during workflows such as library preparation optimization, DNA extraction comparisons, and downstream process screening in research laboratories. The dye's dsDNA-dependent fluorescence response enables straightforward readout with common fluorescence instrumentation, supporting high-throughput experimental design.

2. DNA Fragmentation Monitoring

PICO green is frequently applied to track changes in dsDNA abundance and integrity during enzymatic or processing steps that alter DNA structure, such as restriction digestion or fragmentation workflows. In these experiments, users rely on fluorescence intensity trends to evaluate how treatments impact the amount of dsDNA available for staining, which is useful for screening conditions and comparing reaction outcomes. Because the readout is compatible with plate-based kinetics and endpoint measurements, it is commonly integrated into routine nucleic acid workflow development.

3. qPCR and Amplification Compatibility

PICO green is used in fluorescence-based nucleic acid assays where monitoring dsDNA formation is the primary signal, including certain real-time amplification and endpoint amplification readouts in research settings. Teams developing nucleic acid assays use the dye as a dsDNA reporter to visualize amplification progress without requiring sequence-specific probes. Its dsDNA binding fluorescence response supports assay formats that convert DNA synthesis into a measurable fluorescence signal using standard fluorescence plate readers or compatible detection systems.

4. DNA Normalization In Biomolecule Studies

PICO green is also used for DNA normalization in studies where DNA content must be controlled across samples, such as comparing nucleic acid yields from parallel preparations or normalizing DNA input for downstream biochemical and materials experiments. Researchers in chemical biology and biomaterials science often incorporate the stain into QC steps to ensure consistent dsDNA levels before proceeding to experiments that depend on DNA quantity. This practical role makes it a common reagent in laboratory workflows that require reliable dsDNA measurement prior to imaging, binding studies, or nucleic-acid-dependent assay development.