PuroSAFE™ DNA Gel Stain (25,000X)

PuroSAFE™ DNA Gel Stain is a highly sensitive dye designed for detecting DNA in agarose and polyacrylamide gels. Developed as a safer alternative to ethidium bromide, it can be visualized using either blue light or UV illumination.
 
Minimize exposure to the mutagenic risks of ethidium bromide and damaging UV light
Enhance detection with lower background fluorescence for improved sensitivity
Compatible with standard workflows, including RNA staining, as a direct ethidium bromide replacement
 
Storage: Remains stable for up to 24 months when kept at 4°C.
 
A Safer, More Effective DNA Stain
PuroSAFE™ DNA Gel Stain offers a more environmentally friendly and user-safe option for nucleic acid staining, benefiting not only researchers but also lab safety standards and institutional policies.
 
Lower Toxicity than Ethidium Bromide
Toxicity testing has shown PuroSAFE™ DNA Gel Stain stain to be significantly less mutagenic than ethidium bromide. According to independent Ames test data, it poses a reduced mutagenic risk. Using blue-light transilluminators further minimizes user exposure during procedures like gel band excision.
 
High Sensitivity for DNA Visualization
PuroSAFE™ DNA Gel Stain provides high sensitivity for DNA and RNA detection, with efficient fluorescence when excited by either UV or blue light. When bound to nucleic acids, it fluoresces green with excitation peaks at ~280 and ~502 nm and an emission peak at ~530 nm. Compared to ethidium bromide, it produces lower background fluorescence under blue-light imaging.
 
Convenient and Flexible
Available as a 25,000X concentrate in DMSO, PuroSAFE™ DNA Gel Stain is easy to integrate into existing protocols. It can be added directly to molten agarose before casting the gel or used as a post-electrophoresis stain. For optimal performance, store the solution in its original container away from light at room temperature.
 
Protocol 
 
Post-Electrophoresis Staining of Nucleic Acids
To stain nucleic acids after electrophoresis, immerse the gel in PuroSAFE™ DNA Gel Stain. If using the concentrated 25,000X stock, dilute it in TAE or TBE buffer before use. Place the gel in a plastic container such as a pipette tip box lid or a food storage box—avoid glass containers, as the dye can bind to glass surfaces, leading to uneven staining.
Ensure the gel is fully submerged in the stain. Typically, 50 mL of diluted stain is enough for most mini gels. For larger gels, scale up the volume proportionally.
Incubate the gel in the staining solution for 30 minutes, protecting it from light by covering it with foil or placing it in a dark area. Keep the gel gently agitated on an orbital shaker at about 50 rpm. No additional washing or destaining steps are needed.
 
Precasting Gels with PuroSAFE™ DNA Gel Stain
Incorporate PuroSAFE™ DNA Gel Stain directly into the gel. Replace the buffer normally used to prepare molten agarose with a buffer containing the stain. To do this, dilute the 25,000X concentrate 1:25,000 in 1X TAE or TBE buffer and use that solution to make the agarose gel.
If preparing 50 mL of agarose in TBE, add 2 μL of PuroSAFE™ DNA Gel Stain concentrate to 50 mL of 1X TBE, mix well, and combine with the agarose powder. The mixture can be heated in a microwave just like standard gels.
Note: Gels containing PuroSAFE™ DNA Gel Stain may cause DNA fragments to migrate slightly slower than in unstained gels.
Run the gel using a compatible running buffer. No staining or destaining is needed afterward.
 
Visualization and Photography
Gels stained with PuroSAFE™ DNA Gel Stain can be viewed under various light sources, including:
A 300 nm transilluminator
A 254 nm epi- or transilluminator
A blue-light transilluminator (e.g., Safe Imager 2.0)
PuroSAFE™ DNA Gel Stain DNA can also be visualized using imaging systems with excitation sources in the UV range or between 470–530 nm.
 
Important: If you plan to extract DNA bands from the gel for cloning or ligation, use a blue-light source instead of UV light. UV exposure can decrease cloning efficiency when combined with PuroSAFE™ DNA Gel Stain.
For capturing gel images, use Polaroid 667 black-and-white film with a SYBR Safe-compatible photographic filter. SYPRO filters or Kodak Wratten #9 filters are also effective. Avoid using standard ethidium bromide filters, as they are not suitable for PuroSAFE™ DNA Gel Stain. Gels may also be imaged using CCD cameras or laser scanners.
 
 
Cat: DGS-01, DGS-05