| ethidium | <chemical> A trypanocidal agent and possible antiviral agent that is widely used in experimental cell biology and biochemistry. Ethidium has several experimentally useful properties including binding to nucleic acids, noncompetitive inhibition of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, and fluorescence among others. It is most commonly used as the bromide. Pharmacological action: enzyme inhibitors, fluorescent dyes, indicators and reagents, nicotinic antagonists, trypanocidal agents. Chemical name: Phenanthridinium, 3,8-diamino-5-ethyl-6-phenyl- (12 Dec 1998) |
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| ethidium bromide | <chemical, molecular biology> A dye that intercalates into DNA and to some extent RNA. Intercalation into linear DNA is easier than into circular DNA and the addition of ethidium bromide to DNA prior to ultracentrifugation on a caesium chloride gradient is much used to separate nuclear and mitochondrial or plasmid DNA for analytical purposes. Because less intercalates into the circular DNA, the density remains higher. (18 Nov 1997) |