Uses and Lewis Structure of Diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC)

Uses

Diethyl Pyrocarbonate (DEPC) is a chemical used to inactivate RNase enzymes and is sensitive to moisture and pH. DEPC is also sensitive to ammonia, which causes decomposition to urethane, a possible carcinogen.

DEPC is effective as a nuclease inhibitor. Modification reagent for His and Tyr residues in proteins. Robust probe for structural disruptions in dsDNA, reacting with fully or partially unstacked bases. Diethyl Pyrocarbonate is used to modify proteins and nucleic acids.

Modification reagent for His and Tyr residues in proteins. Robust probe for structural disruptions in dsDNA, reacting with fully or partially unstacked bases. Diethyl pyrocarbonate has been used in PCR reaction for treating deionized water, which reduces the risk of RNA being degraded by RNases. It is also used for Dot blot hybridization, to dilute total RNA isolated from different micro-organisms.

Inactivates RNase in solution at about 0.1% (v/v), thus protecting RNA against degradation. It inhibits the ryanodine binding to ryanodine/Ca2+ receptor channels in skeletal muscle in a dose and time dependent manner and increases the Ca2+ permeability of SR vesicles.

Lewis Structure

Diethyl Pyrocarbonate exhibits Lewis acid-like behavior by reacting with electron-rich sites, such as the imidazole ring of histidine residues in proteins, making it a powerful reagent for RNase inactivation and protein modification.