Nucleic Acid Staining
Fluorescent dyes are molecules that can specifically bind to nucleic acids and produce fluorescent signals when excited by light at specific wavelengths. They are widely used in research fields such as DNA and RNA detection, quantitative analysis, and cellular imaging. BOC Sciences, with its extensive product line, stringent quality control system, and robust technical support, provides highly sensitive and stable fluorescent dyes, facilitating efficient nucleic acid research. Additionally, we offer custom synthesis services to meet different research needs, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of experiments.
What is Nucleic Acid Staining?
Nucleic acid staining involves attaching specific dyes to DNA or RNA, which then emit fluorescence when illuminated by particular light sources, enabling researchers to detect and analyze these nucleic acids. The process uses multiple dye binding mechanisms, including intercalation along with electrostatic interactions and groove binding, to ensure the fluorescent dye securely attaches to both DNA and RNA molecules. The fundamental concept of nucleic acid staining operates through the excitation and emission characteristics of fluorescent dyes. When the dye encounters suitable excitation light, it absorbs energy to become excited and then emits a specific fluorescence wavelength. Fluorescence microscopy, along with flow cytometry and fluorescence quantitative PCR, serve as methods to visualize or quantify nucleic acids. The application of nucleic acid staining spans multiple areas in life sciences and medical research, such as gene expression analysis and nucleic acid electrophoresis detection, as well as live-cell imaging and cell cycle analysis, along with virus detection and drug screening procedures.
Why Choose Our Fluorescent Solutions?
Advanced Synthesis Technology
Focused on the design, synthesis, and optimization of high-performance fluorescent dyes, ensuring high quantum yield, excellent photostability, and low background interference.Broad Spectral Coverage
Comprehensive fluorescence spectrum control capability, offering a wide range of fluorescent dyes from the ultraviolet (UV) to the near-infrared (NIR) regions.Efficient Conjugation Technology
Expertise in the custom synthesis of fluorescent probes, enabling the development of targeted fluorescent dyes tailored to customer needs, such as NHS Ester covalent labeling.Multi-Platform Compatibility
The provided fluorescent dyes are compatible with various experimental platforms, including but not limited to fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, qPCR, and high-throughput screening (HTS).High-Quality Standards
BOC Sciences' fluorescent dye products strictly adhere to international quality standards, ensuring that each batch of products exhibits high purity, stability, and sensitivity.Diverse Product Line
Whether for DNA staining or RNA staining, gel electrophoresis, or live-cell imaging, BOC Sciences provides the right dye products for your needs.Strong R&D Capabilities
BOC Sciences has a research and development team composed of experts in chemistry, biology, and materials science, focused on the innovation and optimization of fluorescent dyes.Global Supply Chain
We have established a comprehensive global supply chain network, ensuring that customers can quickly obtain the required products, whether for small-scale experiments or large-scale production.
Explore Our List of Popular Nucleic Acid Stains
BOC Sciences offers an extensive range of fluorescent dyes suitable for various nucleic acid detection and analysis applications, including DNA and RNA visualization, quantitative analysis, real-time monitoring, and molecular probe labeling. Our fluorescent dyes include both classic dyes and innovative molecular probes, adaptable to different experimental environments, such as routine laboratory analysis, clinical diagnostics, and high-throughput screening. Depending on the nucleic acid binding mechanism and experimental needs, our fluorescent dyes can be categorized into the following major types:
| Product Name | Description | Applications |
| Ethidium Bromide | A commonly used DNA stain that intercalates between the DNA double strands and emits orange-red fluorescence under UV light. | Commonly used for detecting DNA in agarose gel electrophoresis. |
| SYBR Green I | A fluorescent dye that specifically binds to double-stranded DNA and emits green fluorescence when excited. | Commonly used in real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and gel electrophoresis analysis. |
| Propidium Iodide (PI) | A fluorescent dye that binds to DNA but only penetrates damaged cell membranes, typically used to stain dead cells. | Used in flow cytometry to differentiate live and dead cells. |
| DAPI | Binds specifically to the AT-rich regions of DNA, emitting blue fluorescence under UV light. | Used for staining cell nuclei in fluorescence microscopy. |
| Hoechst 33342 | Binds specifically to the AT-rich regions of DNA, emitting blue fluorescence under UV light. | Used for live cell staining, cell counting, and morphological analysis. |
| Cy3 and Cy5 | Orange-red and far-red fluorescent dyes, commonly used for labeling probes or antibodies. | Used in fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry for multiplex staining. |
| Alexa Fluor Series | A series of fluorescent dyes offering different excitation and emission wavelengths, with high fluorescence intensity and low background. | Widely used in immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry. |
| Crystal Violet | Binds to DNA and RNA, emits purple fluorescence under UV light. | Used for cell culture staining, especially in cell proliferation experiments. |
| Thiazole Orange | Binds to DNA and RNA, emits green fluorescence under UV light. | Used for DNA and RNA quantitative analysis, especially in high-throughput screening. |
| BODIPY FL | A fluorescent dye that binds to DNA, emitting green fluorescence. | Used for DNA fluorescence labeling, commonly in fluorescence microscopy. |
| Nile Blue A | Binds to DNA or RNA, emits blue fluorescence under UV light. | Commonly used for DNA or RNA quantitative analysis, particularly in molecular biology research. |
| YO-PRO-1 | Binds to DNA, can penetrate damaged cell membranes, showing green fluorescence in live cells and blue fluorescence in dead cells. | Used for live/dead cell sorting, particularly in flow cytometry. |
| TOTO-1 | Specifically binds to double-stranded DNA, emitting green fluorescence under UV light. | Used in real-time PCR detection and fluorescence microscopy imaging. |
| RiboGreen | Highly sensitive dye that binds specifically to RNA. | Used for RNA quantification and purity assessment, suitable for low-concentration RNA detection. |
| PicoGreen | A highly sensitive fluorescent dye for double-stranded DNA, emits strong fluorescence. | Used for low-concentration DNA quantification, especially for microgram or nanogram level DNA measurement. |
| Lux Fluor™ 680 | Emits fluorescence in the near-infrared range, can penetrate thicker samples. | Used in multiplex labeling experiments and in vivo imaging studies. |
| L-Red 630 | A red fluorescent dye that binds to DNA and emits red fluorescence. | Used in multiplex staining, especially in fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry applications. |
Customized Fluorescent Dye Services for Your Specific Needs
In nucleic acid staining and molecular biology research, standard fluorescent dyes may not fully meet all experimental requirements. Different research directions, detection methods, and application scenarios require specific fluorescent characteristics, such as particular excitation/emission wavelengths, higher photostability, stronger nucleic acid affinity, or specific functional group modifications. Therefore, BOC Sciences offers customized fluorescent dye services to help customers develop proprietary fluorescent labeling reagents tailored to their experimental needs, optimizing experimental performance and enhancing detection sensitivity and specificity.
Structural Optimization/Modification
The chemical structure of fluorescent dyes can be adjusted according to customer requirements to optimize their optical properties, stability, and biocompatibility. Specific customization services include tuning excitation/emission wavelengths, enhancing photostability, regulating nucleic acid binding properties, and conjugating specific functional groups.
Customization of Fluorescent Probes
Fluorescent labeling probes can be customized based on experimental needs, including fluorescently labeled oligonucleotide probes, FRET donor-acceptor pairs, TaqMan probes, and dye-labeled antibodies and proteins.
Specific Fluorescent Dye Development
Different research fields and experimental techniques require tailored fluorescent dyes. BOC Sciences can develop and optimize specialized fluorescent labeling reagents based on specific application scenarios, such as intracellular nucleic acid staining, real-time nucleic acid detection, high-throughput screening (HTS), and biosensors with nanotechnology.
Streamlined Quality Control for Superior Fluorescent Dye Performance
In nucleic acid staining and molecular biology experiments, the purity and performance of fluorescent dyes are crucial to the accuracy of experimental results. BOC Sciences adheres to strict quality control standards, ensuring high-quality fluorescent dyes that meet the rigorous demands of scientific research, diagnostics, and industrial applications. Each step, from raw material selection and synthesis optimization to the final product's purification and testing, follows international industry standards.
- Strict Raw Material Selection: We ensure all synthesis reagents and precursor molecules meet high purity standards.
- Advanced Synthesis and Purification: Controlled synthetic strategies ensure stability and consistency of fluorescent dye structures.
- Chemical Purity Analysis: HPLC and mass spectrometry confirm the purity of fluorescent dyes.
- Fluorescence Spectral Detection: UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy determine compatibility with experimental equipment.
- Quantum Yield Measurement: Photon conversion efficiency ensures optimal fluorescence intensity.
- Photostability Testing: Dye resistance to photobleaching is tested under UV and laser exposure.
- pH Adaptability Testing: Dye stability is assessed across various pH conditions.
- Water Solubility and Solvent Compatibility: Solubility in different systems is tested for experimental applicability.
- Cytotoxicity and Biocompatibility Testing: MTT/CCK-8 assays ensure low toxicity for cell-based and in vivo applications
- Batch Stability and Consistency Control: Standardized processes maintain stability and consistency across batches.
- Compliance with International Quality Standards: Our production adheres to ISO 9001 and cGMP, meeting global market demands.
Comprehensive Quality Control Platform
- High-Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC)
- Fluorescence Spectrometer
- Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA)
- Fluorescence Spectroscopy
- Gas Chromatograph (GC)
- Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analyzer
- Ion Chromatograph (IC)
- UV-Vis Spectrophotometer
- Mass Spectrometer
- Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
Applications of Fluorescent Nucleic Acid Staining
By labeling nucleic acid molecules with fluorescent dyes that specifically bind to DNA or RNA, fluorescent nucleic acid staining enables highly sensitive detection in experiments such as fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, and gel electrophoresis. This technique can be used to assess cell viability, analyze the cell cycle, and detect apoptosis, playing a crucial role in genetic analysis, pathogen detection, and high-throughput screening. Additionally, it is widely applied in advanced fields such as gene expression studies, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and single-molecule imaging.
Gel Electrophoresis Staining
In DNA or RNA migration experiments (such as agarose gel electrophoresis, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis), fluorescent dyes can enhance the visualization of nucleic acid bands. Fluorescent dyes such as SYBR Green and GelRed provided by BOC Sciences can replace traditional ethidium bromide, improving safety and being compatible with various detection devices.
Cell Nucleus Fluorescent Staining
Fluorescent staining of cell nuclei is commonly required in cell biology research to study cell cycles, apoptosis, or cell differentiation. BOC Sciences' Hoechst 33258 and DAPI are suitable for DNA staining in fixed or live cells, offering high selectivity and low cytotoxicity.
Real-Time Fluorescent PCR (qPCR)
Real-time fluorescence PCR technology relies on the signal changes of fluorescent dyes or probes to monitor the nucleic acid amplification process. BOC Sciences provides high-purity SYBR Green I and customized fluorescent probes (e.g., FAM-TAMRA labeled TaqMan probes), ensuring sensitivity and specificity in qPCR reactions.
Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH)
FISH technology is widely used in genomic analysis and genetic disease detection. BOC Sciences offers fluorescent-labeled nucleotides (e.g., Cy3-dUTP, Alexa Fluor 647-dUTP) for probe preparation, ensuring high-resolution imaging in FISH experiments.
Flow Cytometry
Fluorescent dyes produced by BOC Sciences (e.g., Propidium Iodide, PI; SYTO series dyes) can be used for DNA content measurement in cells, aiding research in cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, and cell subpopulation analysis.
FAQs About Nucleic Acid Staining
Which stain is used for nucleic acid?
Common nucleic acid stains include fluorescent dyes such as DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole), PI (Propidium Iodide), and Hoechst dyes. These dyes specifically bind to DNA or RNA and are typically used to observe nucleic acid distribution inside cells under fluorescence microscopy. For example, DAPI penetrates the cell membrane, binds to AT base pairs in DNA, and emits blue fluorescence, making it widely used in cytology and molecular biology research.
Does methylene blue stain nucleic acids?
Methylene Blue is a commonly used dye primarily for staining the cytoplasm and nucleus of cells or tissues, but it does not bind to nucleic acids as specifically as other fluorescent dyes. Methylene Blue can stain DNA, but its binding to DNA is not as selective and sensitive as that of specific fluorescent dyes like DAPI. Its staining effect is mainly observed on cell structures and is not specifically used for efficient nucleic acid labeling.
What is DAPI for nucleic acid staining?
DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) is a widely used fluorescent dye primarily for DNA staining. DAPI specifically binds to A-T base pairs in DNA, forming a stable complex that emits blue fluorescence under ultraviolet light. It is commonly used in cell staining, cell counting, and nucleic acid localization studies. Due to its high sensitivity and ability to penetrate cell membranes, it is frequently used in both live and fixed cell staining experiments.
Online Inquiry
