Feulgen Reaction and Quantitative Cytochemistry of Desoxypentose Nucleic Acid

Abstract

A large excess of Schiff reagent enhances the color development of the Feulgen reaction on isolated samples of DNA. This is due to the excess of the metabisulfite and not the leucofuchsin. Using 0.1 [image] glycine buffer of pH 2.28 with excess metabisulfite as the medium, the volume of Schiff reagent to be added can be reduced to 5% of the final vol. of the mixture without influencing the sensitivity of the reagent. A study of factors influencing hydrolysis indicates that the intensity of color is highest and the rate of its diminution lowest when DNA is hydrolyzed with 1 [image] HC1 at 60[degree]C.