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. 1991 Apr 11;19(7):1521-6.
doi: 10.1093/nar/19.7.1521.

Intercalation of ethidium bromide into a triple-stranded oligonucleotide

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Free PMC article

Intercalation of ethidium bromide into a triple-stranded oligonucleotide

J L Mergny et al. Nucleic Acids Res. .
Free PMC article

Abstract

We have examined the ability of a cationic planar chromophore, ethidium bromide, to intercalate into a short, defined triple helix. Using UV absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy and a gel retardation assay we demonstrate that ethidium bromide is able to bind to a triple helix with a lower affinity than to the corresponding duplex. Energy transfer from base triplets to ethidium shows that ethidium is intercalated into the triple helix. The spectroscopic characteristics of ethidium intercalated into a triplex are similar to those observed for intercalation into duplex DNA.

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