The given technology provides methods and kits for labeling and detecting thiol containing species and nucleic acids using mercurimethyl-dihydropsoralen compounds and derivatives thereof which intercalate nucleic acids and are highly reactive with thiol containing species are provided. Fluorescent reactions products of the mercurimethyl-dihydropsoralen compounds or derivatives thereof attached to a thiol containing species and nucleic acids fluorescently labeled with these reaction products are also provided.
The fluorescent thiol containing reaction products maintain their ability to intercalate into nucleic acid sequences, thus also providing a fluorescent tag for labeling and detection of nucleic acids.
This technology is protected under US Patent:7,150,967Ned Heindel's Lehigh Page