Nucleic Acid Labeling

Explore our portfolio of nucleic acid labeling and detection methods, tailored to meet the diverse needs of PCR products, oligonucleotides, and other nucleic acids. Choosing the right reagents and methods is critical, depending on the molecule to be labeled and its intended downstream application.
Leveraging our expertise in enzymology, nucleotide chemistry, and dye chemistry, we have developed a robust suite of fluorescent, non-radioactive, and hapten DNA labeling solutions. These solutions are widely used in blotting, in situ hybridization, and various other molecular biology techniques.

Discover our innovative DNA/RNA labeling and quantification technologies designed to advance your research and deliver exceptional results.

ReadiLink™ iFluor® 647 FISH Imaging Kits

Overview: Nucleic Acid Labeling Methods

An extensive range of reagents is available for the swift and effective benchtop labeling of oligonucleotides. These reagents are invaluable for generating small quantities of probes or multiple probes with consistent labeling, which is particularly useful in mutational analysis. For small-scale probe generation, enzymatic methods provide a cost-effective and efficient approach to labeling. In contrast, chemical methods are more suitable for larger-scale reactions. Both enzymatic and chemical techniques facilitate the creation of probes labeled at either the 5′ or 3′ ends of the oligonucleotide, as well as randomly incorporated throughout the sequence.

The choice of labeling method depends on the desired level of labeling and the potential steric hindrance that could impact the intended interactions. Nucleic acid hybridization reactions, such as northern blotting, benefit from the high specific activity provided by random label incorporation. Conversely, assays involving protein interactions, like gel shift and pull-down assays, require precise end-labeling to facilitate effective protein binding.

Selecting the right labeling method ensures high accuracy and reliability in experimental outcomes, ultimately advancing scientific research with greater precision and efficacy.

Helixyte™ iFluor® Nucleic Acid Labeling Dyes

Helixyte™ iFluor® Nucleic Acid Labeling Dyes sets a new standard in nucleic acid labeling providing a streamlined and efficient alternative to traditional techniques. While conventional methods often involve complex procedures and yield suboptimal results, Helixyte™ technology enables the precise attachment of fluorophores to nucleic acids with ease and efficiency. By targeting the N7 position of guanine, Helixyte™ ensures stable covalent bonding through a simple mixing step, resulting in high-yield production of labeled probes. These probes exhibit bright, stable fluorescence, making them ideal for applications such as blotting, in situ hybridization, multicolor fluorescence hybridization, and microarray analysis.

The Resulting Labeled Probe is useful for:

• Dot, northern and Southern blots
• RNA and DNA in situ hybridization
• Multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (mFISH)
• Comparative genome hybridization (CGH)
• Microarray analysis

Table 1. Helixyte™ iFluor® Nucleic Acid Labeling Dyes