SYBR Gold

SYBR Gold is a fluorescent nucleic acid stain used in molecular biology for visualizing DNA and RNA. It is marketed by Invitrogen (Thermo Fisher Scientific). SYBR Gold is noted for its extremely high sensitivity, often allowing detection of nucleic acids with significantly lower background fluorescence compared to older dyes like ethidium bromide. This enhanced sensitivity makes it useful for applications such as quantitative PCR (qPCR), agarose gel electrophoresis, and capillary electrophoresis.

SYBR Gold intercalates into double-stranded DNA and binds to single-stranded DNA and RNA, enhancing its fluorescence upon binding. The dye exhibits a much larger fluorescence increase upon binding to nucleic acids than ethidium bromide. Its excitation and emission spectra cover a broad range, allowing it to be used with a variety of light sources and detection filters.

The dye is generally considered less mutagenic than ethidium bromide, although it should still be handled with appropriate safety precautions. Disposal protocols may vary depending on local regulations, but often involve treatment to render the dye non-fluorescent before disposal.

SYBR Gold is widely used in molecular biology laboratories for its superior performance in nucleic acid detection and quantification. It is often preferred when high sensitivity is required or when working with low concentrations of nucleic acids.