title: DAPI: a DNA-specific fluorescent probe.
abstract: DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) is a DNA-specific probe which forms a fluorescent complex by attaching in the minor grove of A-T rich sequences of DNA. It also forms nonfluorescent intercalative complexes with double-stranded nucleic acids. The physicochemical properties of the dye and its complexes with nucleic acids and history of the development of this dye as a biological stain are described. The application of DAPI as a DNA-specific probe for flow cytometry, chromosome staining, DNA visualization and quantitation in histochemistry and biochemistry is reviewed. The mechanisms of DAPI-nucleic acid complex formation including minor groove binding, intercalation and condensation are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Gdansk University, Poland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kapuscinski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007211:Indoles; C007293:DAPI; D004247:DNA