7-Aminoactinomycin D

7-Aminoactinomycin D[1]
Names
Other names
7-Amino-actinomycin D
Identifiers
7240-37-1 
ChEBI CHEBI:52304 Yes
ChemSpider 21326185 Yes
Jmol-3D images Image
PubChem 16218991
Properties
C62H87N13O16
Molar mass 1270.43 g/mol
Appearance Red to dark purple powder
Hazards
R-phrases R26/27/28 R36/37/38
S-phrases S26 S28 S36/37 S45
Except where noted otherwise, data is given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
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Infobox references

7-Aminoactinomycin D (7-AAD) is a fluorescent chemical compound with a strong affinity for DNA. It is used as a fluorescent marker for DNA in fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. It intercalates in double-stranded DNA, with a high affinity for GC-rich regions,[2] making it useful for chromosome banding studies.[3]

Applications

With an absorption maximum at 546 nm, 7-AAD is efficiently excited using a 543 nm helium–neon laser; it can also be excited with somewhat lower efficiency using a 488 nm or 514 nm argon laser lines. Its emission has a very large Stokes shift with a maximum in the deep red: 647 nm. 7-AAD is therefore compatible with most blue and green fluorophores and even many red fluorophores in multicolour applications.

7-AAD does not readily pass through intact cell membranes; if it is to be used as a stain for imaging DNA fluorescence, the cell membrane must be permeabilized or disrupted. This method can be used in combination with formaldehyde fixation of samples.

7-AAD is also used as a cell viability stain. Cells with compromised membranes will stain with 7-AAD, while live cells with intact cell membranes will remain dark.

Actinomycin D

The related compound actinomycin D is nonfluorescent, but binds DNA in the same way as 7-AAD. Its absorbance changes when bound to DNA, and it can be used as a stain in conventional transmission microscopy.

References

  1. 7-Aminoactinomycin D at Interchim
  2. Liu X, Chen H, Patel D (1991). "Solution structure of actinomycin-DNA complexes: drug intercalation at isolated G-C sites". J Biomol NMR 1 (4): 323–47. doi:10.1007/BF02192858. PMID 1841703.
  3. Latt S (1977). "Fluorescent probes of chromosome structure and replication". Can J Genet Cytol 19 (4): 603–23. PMID 76502.

Gallery

External links