SUBSTITUTED UNSYMMETRICAL CYANINE DYES WITH SELECTED PERMEABILITY

摘要

The invention describes the preparation and use of fluorescent stains for nucleic acids derived from unsymmetrical cyanine dyes comprising a substituted benzazolium ring system linked by a methine bridge to a pyridinium or quinolinium ring system having at least one substituent on the pyridinium or quinolinium ring that contains a heteroatom. The presence of the heteroatom-containing substituent results in higher sensitivity to oligonucleotides and larger nucleic acid polymers in a wide range of cells and gels, and for use in analysis of cell structure, membrane integrity or function.