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Updated: Jan 6, 2026

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Synthesis of Wavelength-shifting DNA Hybridization Probes by Using Photostable Cyanine Dyes
Published on: July 6, 2016
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Single photon DNA photocleavage at 830 nm by quinoline dicarbocyanine dyes
Kanchan Basnet1, Tayebeh Fatemipouya1, Anna St Lorenz2
1Department of Chemistry, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. kbgrant@gsu.edu mhenary1@gsu.edu.
Abstract:
We have synthesized symmetrical carbocyanine dyes in which two 4-quinolinium rings are joined by a pentamethine bridge that is meso-substituted with H or Cl. Irradiation of the halogenated dye at 830 nm produces hydroxyl radicals that generate DNA direct strand breaks. This represents the first reported example of DNA photocleavage upon single photon excitation of a chromophore at wavelengths above 800 nm.

