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Updated: May 25, 2026

DNA Electrophoresis Using Thiazole Orange Instead of Ethidium Bromide or Alternative Dyes
Published on: March 31, 2019
Negative visualization of DNA in agarose gel by eosin Y and its related mechanism
Weitao Cong1, Weijing You, Mao Chen
1Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceuticals, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, PR China.
Abstract:
We report here a sensitive and environmentally benign technique for the visualization of DNA by using eosin Y, which appeared as a transparent and colorless band under the opaque gel matrix background. As low as 0.2-0.6 ng of DNA can be visualized within 1 h, similar to that of the most commonly used ethidium bromide stain. Furthermore, the mechanism of the newly developed method was also described. According to the results, it can be concluded that the complex between DNA and eosin Y is mainly formed by the function of groove binding, but not intercalate itself into the double helix structure of DNA.
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