Re: What is, Ethium Bromide, Mitomycin-C, Adriamycin, and where can i find them

Hi John,

Although your plans for a science fair project sound exciting, I strongly 
advise you to reconsider and modify your research approach. The compounds 
you have chosen for your study are mutagens and/or carcinogens which 
should only be used under supervision by a trained scientist who can 
instruct you in safe handling and proper disposal procedures. I cannot in 
good conscience suggest any vendors to you, aside from the fact that these 
vendors will not sell these dangerous compounds to a high school student.

Nevertheless, here is some information on the way in which these compounds 
work:

Ethidium is a polycyclic aromatic cation, consisting of three connected 
rings (one of them containing a positively charged nitrogen) and one 
additional ring perpendicular to the plane of three rings. The bromide is 
the counter ion. The molecule inserts itself between neighboring base 
pairs in DNA (this is called intercalation) and partially unwinds the 
double helix. This distorts the helix and interferes with replication and 
transcription of DNA.

Adriamycin (also known as doxorubicin) is another intercalating agent that 
works in a manner similar to ethidium bromide.

Mitomycin-C forms covalent bonds with guanines on the two complementary 
strands of the DNA double helix. In other words, the compound is a 
crosslinking agent. As a consequence, the two strands of the double helix 
can no longer be unwound by the enzymes that replicate DNA, and DNA 
synthesis is inhibited.