The major drawback to ethidium bromide is that it is a potent mutagen. Ethidium bromide etbr is a mutagen, a suspected carcinogen and teratogen, and at high concentrations is irritating to the eyes, skin, mucous membranes and upper respiratory tract. Otherwise, aqueous solutions must be deactivated beforedisposal. A safer alternative is to purchase ethidium bromide in solution. Due to its unique structure, it can easily intercalate into dna strand. Wear gloves and a face mask when working with ethidium bromide in powdered form. While i dont for a minute think that we should all throw our gloves away and bathe in the. No producers of eb were reported in epas 1983 tscapp database cis, 1994.
The toxic effects of etbr may be experienced if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Singlestranded rna can also be detected, since it usually folds back onto itself and thus provides local base pairing for the dye to intercalate. It is used because upon binding of the molecule to the dna and illumination with a uv light source, the dna banding pattern can be visualized. Are other fluorescent tags used instead of ethidium bromide. The mode of binding of etbr is intercalation between base pairs. Safety data sheet creation date 08jun2010 revision date 18jan2018 revision number 4 1. They can be also detected with ultraviolet lights, but they are dangerous to the humans eye, so this is where ethidium bromide stain takes part in and makes the availability for the nucleic acids to be viewed just with enclosed camera.
Therefore, it is commonly used as nucleic acid fluorescent tag in various techniques of the life science. Ethidium bromide ethidium bromide2,7diamino10ethyl9phenylphenanthridinium bromide etbr remains a widely used dye for the visualization of nucleic acids in agarose gels. Ethidium bromide is a dna intercalator, inserting itself between the base pairs in the double helix. Identification product name ethidium bromide, 1% solutionmolecular biology cat no. Ethidium bromide ethidium bromide is an intercalating agent which resembles a dna base pair. Place the green bag into the ethidium bromide solution. Ethidium bromide etbr is sometimes added to running buffer during the separation of dna fragments by agarose gel electrophoresis. Extreme high moderate low section 1 chemical product and company identification product name ethidium bromide solution statement of hazardous nature considered a hazardous substance according to osha 29 cfr 1910. Feb 27, 2020 ethidium bromide is a potent mutagen which has been commonly used as a nucleic acid stain for many years. It fluoresces a redorange colour under ultraviolet light and with increased fluorescence when bound to doublestranded dna. Liquid ethidium bromide waste can be collected in the same container as the solid waste.
Well, we finally standardized gelred dye and we want to decontaminate all the working area. Disposal of electrophoresis buffer solutions and gels overview. These gels will typically be agarosebased or polyacrylamide. Fisher scientific 1 reagent lane fair lawn, nj 07410 for information, call.
Pdf safety disposal of electrophoresis gels and pcr. In the case of dna this is usually doublestranded dna from pcrs, restriction digests, etc. These are available online in convenient and compact pdf. This eliminates the hazards of working with the powdered form.
The interaction of the intercalating dye ethidium bromide with several native and synthetic polydeoxyribonucleic acids has been studied by means of circular dichroic spectra. Providing assistance and technical guidance on the proper disposal of chemical, biological, radiological and universal wastes. Typically eb is purchased in powder or solution form and is soluble in water. Ethidium bromide mutagen, moderately toxic used in the following area.
Ethidium bromide is a wellknown and widely used fluorescent dye in biotechnology research. The filtrate may be poured down the drain the used filters are disposed of similar to gels. Ethidium bromide is the most commonly utilized dye throughout the medical college and is a highly toxic and potentially mutagenic chemical which may be fatal if. Extreme high moderate low section 1 chemical product and company identification product name ethidium bromide statement of hazardous nature considered a hazardous substance according to osha 29 cfr 1910.
Bp210 synonyms no information available recommended use laboratory chemicals. Ethidium bromide etbr is the most commonly used nucleic acid stain for page or agarose gel electrophoresis. Campus ethidium bromide procedures campus hazard communication program campus. Ethidium bromide has uv absorbance maxima at 300 and 360 nm, and an emission maximum at 590 nm. Ethidium bromide is not a regulated hazardous material, but due to its potential health hazards, precautions should be taken during handling and disposal. Much less ethidium bromide waste for disposal compared to standard staining procedure.
While it is not specifically regulated as a hazardous waste, the mutagenic properties may. It is commonly abbreviated as etbr, which is also an abbreviation for bromoethane. Qiaprep miniprep handbook 052012 3 contents kit contents 4 storage 5 intended use 5. Filtering aqueous ethidium bromide waste solutions that are free of other contaminants through a bed of activated charcoal is a relatively simple and effective method for removal of ethidium bromide. Ethidium bromide is an intercalating agent commonly used as a fluorescent tag nucleic acid stain in molecular biology laboratories for techniques such as agarose gel electrophoresis. The fluorescence of etbr increases 21fold upon binding to doublestranded rna and 25fold on binding doublestranded dna so that destaining the background is not necessary with a low stain concentration 10. Read the safety data sheet and be familiar with the hazards and appropriate.
Ethidium bromide etbr is a commonly used stain for the visualization of nucleic acids in agarose gels. Dispose of the green bag in the biohazardous waste box for incineration. The detection limit of dna bound to ethidium bromide is 0. Etbr is a dark red, crystalline, nonvolatile solid, moderately soluble in water, which fluoresces. Fisher scientific 1 reagent lane fair lawn, nj 07410. Ethidium bromide intercalates inserts itself between nucleic acid base pairs and exhibits fluorescence under ultraviolet light, providing molecular biologists with an excellent stain for visualizing and imaging nucleic acids. Developing and maintaining waste disposal procedures which comply with federal, state, and local regulations. It is widely used by scientists due to its high sensitivity, rapid staining and very inexpensive price. Eb was reported by watkins 1952 to be prepared from 3. Environmental health and safety ehs at weill cornell medicine wcm has developed this waste disposal program. Ethidium bromide solution 10 mgml catalog or product number.
In addition to the wide application of this compound in. Common toxic powders used in the lab include acrylamide, ethidium bromide. It is available as an aqueous solution containing 10 mgml ultrapure ethidium bromide and highpurity water. This compound acts as an intercalating agent to stain nucleic acids by marked florescent orange during exposure to uv light. Ethidium bromide etbr is a wellknown fluorescent tag figure 1 that is usually applied in molecular biological techniques. Ethidium bromide is a potent mutagen used as a nucleic acid stain. Uses advised against not for food, drug, pesticide or biocidal product use details of the supplier of the safety data sheet emergency telephone number chemtreco, inside the usa. Mixture name product identifier % classification ghsus water, reagent grade, usp purified cas no 7732185 98 not classified. After inactivation, the solution, devoid of ethidium bromide,can be poured down the drain with copious amounts of water. Ethidium bromide is a potent mutagen, often used in laboratories to stain nucleic acids in electrophoresis gels. A uv light can be used to determine complete inactivation.
It has a role as an intercalator and a fluorochrome. The cd of dna ethidium bromide complexes in the 290360 nm region is characterized, especially at high salt and at high ethylene glycol content, by positive and negative. Product ethidium bromide solution, 10ml product code h5041 substance number description amount symbols h504 ethidium bromide solution 1 t. Exposure information commercial availabili production and producers. Ethidium bromide solution sc286960 hazard alert code key. Disposal, decontamination, and destruction procedure. Ethidium bromid e summary of data for chenflcal selection. Ethidium bromide laboratory spill and waste handling procedures. Therefore, it is commonly used as nucleic acid fluorescent tag in various techniques of the life science field. For more information, please consult the appropriate material safety data sheets msdss. Agarose gel electrophoresis is one of them figure 2, in that etbr is generally used. How to decontaminate the working zone with ethidium bromide hello dear friends.
To avoid confusion, some laboratories have used the abbreviation ethbr. Sigmaaldrich 3050 spruce street saint louis mo 63103 usa telephone. How to decontaminate the working zone with ethidium bromide. Ethidium bromide can also bind to singlestranded dna and rna.
Material safety data sheet precast agarose gel cassette with ethidium bromide version. Ultrapure ethidium bromide is a sensitive fluorescent dye used to detect nucleic acids in agarose gels and caesium chloride cscl gradients. Ethidium bromide safe handling and disposal procedures. Ethidium bromide safe handling, disposal, and emergency procedures.
Electrophoresis gels are commonly used in molecular biology laboratories for the identification of dna and proteins. For use with application rapid and sensitive, disposal of instastain ethidium bromide is minimal compared to the volume of liquid waste generated from the standard ethidium bromide staining procedure. Ethidium bromide is a sensitive, easy stain for dna. Please follow the instructions listed in this fact sheet when handling etbr. Pippin preptm precast agarose gel cassettes with buffer solution product numbers.
Researchers are rightly wary of this potential carcinogen. Mutagenic dyes ethidium bromide, acridine orange, sybr green i. Safety equipment inspection sheets excel sheet you may modify to track. Material safety data sheet ethidium bromide solution sdsmsds.
Ethidium bromide stock solution dissolve 50 mg ethidium bromide in 5 ml double dist. Ethidium bromide waste disposal fact sheet environmental. Are other fluorescent tags used instead of ethidium. Dec 19, 20 ethidium bromide etbr is a wellknown fluorescent tag usually applied in molecular biological techniques like agarose gel electrophoresis. Disposal of electrophoresis gels and solutions environmental. Ethidium is the fluorescent compound widely used in experimental cell biology and biochemistry to reveal doublestranded dna and rna.
Ethidium bromide gels, stock solutions, buffers and contaminated debris should be referred to ehs for collection and disposal. Nonetheless, the sensitivity, simplicity the dye may be run in the gel. Please read the safety data sheet for more information. It is a phenanthridinium intercalator, structurally similar to propidium iodide. A trypanocidal agent and possible antiviral agent that is widely used in experimental cell biology and biochemistry. Ethidium bromideinduced inhibition of mitochondrial gene.
Cornell university laboratory safety videos includes short videos on. Remove person to fresh air and keep comfortable for breathing. Ethidium bromide c 21 h 20 brn 3, also known as bromoethane h 3 cch 2 br or simply etbr, is used in the biochemistry by detecting nucleic acids. Ethidium bromide is typically in powder or solution form and is soluble in water. It yields low background and a detection limit of 15 ng band. Educating and training the wcm community about these waste disposal procedures.
Do not dispose of ethidium bromide as biohazardous waste. Ethidium bromide is used to visualize dna in agarose gels and in many cesium chloride gradient protocols. More recently this wariness has been whipped up into a witch hunt by companies touting safer alternatives and disposal methods. H504 application of the substance the mixturelaboratory chemicals details of the supplier of the safety data sheet manufacturersupplier. The hysteria among molecular biologists about our old friend ethidium bromide has long been an irritation to me. The mechanism of action for such compounds is known, in which these compounds are able to bind to the kinetoplastid dna and to alter their conformation to zdna molecules that stop replication of. Ethidium bromide laboratory spill and waste handling. Ethidium bromide solution material safety data sheet sds msds.
Ethidium bromide etbr wastes are not regulated by the state of massachusetts or the epa. Wear appropriate protective eyeglasses or chemical safety goggles as described by oshas eye and face protection regulations in 29 cfr 1910. Wipe the area with a damp cloth after the work with ethidium bromide powder is complete. Ethidium bromide, 10mgml aqueous solution safety data sheet according to federal register vol. Promega corporation 2800 woods hollow road madison, wi 53711 u. The cd of dnaethidium bromide complexes in the 290360 nm region is characterized, especially at high salt and at high ethylene glycol content, by positive and negative. The 10 mgml ethidium bromide stock solution can be diluted for gel staining or used as provided for csc1 gradient protocols. Product name ethidium bromide, 1% solutionmolecular biology cat no. It fluorescents a redorange color under ultraviolet uv light and with increased fluorescence when bound to doublestranded dna.
109 208 480 405 884 362 991 598 1066 1092 1062 348 1002 1199 545 1552 55 135 150 620 911 1043 757 1102 869 1010 1318 1340 410 162 1081 953 489 859 1060 300 1111 894 1279 169 829 621 763 79