Methylene Blue Stain (MB 119)

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Methylene Blue Stain is an aqueous solution of methylene blue designed for quantitative and qualitative assessment of RNA and DNA immobilized on hybridization membranes. It can be used to verify the amount of RNA on hybridization membranes in northern blotting. Unlike the carcinogenic agent, ethidium bromide, Methylene Blue Stain does not intercalate in nucleic acid chains and accordingly, does not interfere with nucleic acid retention on hybridization membranes or with the hybridization process (1). Methylene Blue Stain has been tested and found appropriate for nylon/plastic or nitrocellulose membranes, although nitrocellulose exhibits increased background staining. Methylene Blue Stain is reusable and detects approximately 25 ng of RNA or DNA per band. The staining procedure is fast (10 min.) and simple.

References

1. Maniatis, T., Fritsch, E.F. and Sambrook, J. 1982. Molecular Cloning. Cold Spring Harbor Press. Cold Spring Harbor, NY.