Direct determination of single-to-double stranded DNA ratio in solution applying time-resolved fluorescence measurements of dye–DNA complexes

Abstract

We report the fluorescence lifetimes of the DNA-stain dye PicoGreen and discuss the difference exhibited in the upon binding to single-stranded vs. double-stranded DNA; we here developed a direct method for determining single-to-double stranded DNA ratios in solution by measurement of the pre-exponential factors in the fluorescence decay traces of dye–DNA complexes.