Counterion-dye staining method for DNA in agarosegels using indoine blue and methyl orange

Sensitive and safe method for visualization of DNA in agarose gels using visible dye is described. To improve the sensitivity, we studied a counterion-dye staining method using methyl orange as a counterion-dye which contributes to reduce excessive background staining by indoine blue. Dye concentrations, PH of staining solution, mixing molar ratio of two dyes, and staining times were optimized for the counterion-dye staining. By the staining with a mixed solution of 0.005% indoine blue and 0.00165% methyl orange in 10% ethanol 0.2M sodium acetate, 8 ng of the 3 kb DNA in an agarose gel was detected within 1hr. (omitted)