What are the uses of Guanidine Isothiocyanate?
Oct 28, 2025| Guanidine isothiocyanate (GITC) is a powerful and versatile chemical compound that has found numerous applications across various scientific and industrial fields. As a leading supplier of high - quality guanidine isothiocyanate, we are well - versed in its many uses and benefits. In this blog, we will explore the diverse applications of guanidine isothiocyanate, highlighting its significance in different sectors.
1. Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
One of the most well - known applications of guanidine isothiocyanate is in molecular biology, particularly in nucleic acid extraction. GITC is a chaotropic agent, which means it can disrupt the hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions that maintain the native structure of proteins and nucleic acids. This property makes it an excellent component in lysis buffers used for the isolation of RNA and DNA from biological samples.
When cells are lysed in the presence of guanidine isothiocyanate, the protein components are denatured, and the nucleic acids are released from the cellular matrix. The chaotropic nature of GITC also helps to inactivate ribonucleases (RNases) and deoxyribonucleases (DNases), which are enzymes that can degrade RNA and DNA respectively. This is crucial for obtaining high - quality, intact nucleic acids for downstream applications such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), sequencing, and gene expression analysis.
For example, in a typical RNA extraction protocol, a cell or tissue sample is first homogenized in a solution containing guanidine isothiocyanate, along with other reagents like β - mercaptoethanol. The guanidine isothiocyanate denatures the proteins and inactivates the RNases, while β - mercaptoethanol reduces disulfide bonds in proteins, further aiding in their denaturation. After centrifugation, the RNA can be selectively precipitated and purified from the lysate.
2. Protein Research
In protein research, guanidine isothiocyanate is used as a protein denaturant. It can unfold proteins by disrupting the non - covalent interactions that maintain their three - dimensional structure. This is useful in various protein analysis techniques, such as protein purification and protein folding studies.
When purifying proteins, guanidine isothiocyanate can be used to solubilize insoluble proteins, especially those that form inclusion bodies in recombinant protein expression systems. By denaturing the proteins in the presence of GITC, they can be solubilized and then refolded into their native conformation under appropriate conditions. This allows for the purification of proteins that would otherwise be difficult to isolate.
In protein folding studies, GITC can be used to create a denatured state of a protein, and then the refolding process can be monitored by various biophysical techniques such as circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. These studies help to understand the mechanisms of protein folding and misfolding, which are relevant to many diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases.
3. Diagnostic and Medical Applications
Guanidine isothiocyanate has also found applications in the diagnostic and medical fields. In diagnostic assays, it can be used in the preparation of biological samples for the detection of pathogens. For example, in the diagnosis of viral infections, guanidine isothiocyanate - based lysis buffers can be used to extract viral nucleic acids from patient samples such as blood, saliva, or respiratory secretions. The extracted nucleic acids can then be used for PCR - based detection of the viral genome.
In addition, guanidine isothiocyanate has been investigated for its potential antiviral and antibacterial properties. Some studies have shown that GITC can inhibit the replication of certain viruses and bacteria by disrupting their protein and nucleic acid metabolism. However, more research is needed to fully understand its therapeutic potential and to develop safe and effective formulations for medical use.
4. Industrial Applications
Beyond the scientific and medical fields, guanidine isothiocyanate has industrial applications. It is used in the production of certain polymers and dyes. In polymer synthesis, GITC can act as a chain - transfer agent or a cross - linking agent, influencing the properties of the resulting polymers such as their molecular weight and solubility.
In the dye industry, guanidine isothiocyanate can be used in the synthesis of certain types of dyes. It can react with other chemical compounds to form chromophores, which are responsible for the color of the dyes. The unique chemical properties of GITC allow for the synthesis of dyes with specific colors and properties, which are used in various applications such as textile dyeing and printing.
Related Products
As a supplier of guanidine isothiocyanate, we also offer a range of related products that may be of interest to our customers. For example, we provide Medical Grade Dicyandiamide 99.7%, which is a high - purity chemical with applications in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Our Exquisite Dicyandiamide 99.8% is another premium product that can be used in various chemical reactions and syntheses. Additionally, we offer Amidinothiourea, which has applications in the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds and in the treatment of certain metal ions.
Contact for Procurement
If you are interested in purchasing guanidine isothiocyanate or any of our related products, we invite you to contact us for procurement and further discussions. Our team of experts is ready to provide you with detailed information about our products, including specifications, pricing, and delivery options. We are committed to providing high - quality products and excellent customer service. Whether you are a research institution, a pharmaceutical company, or an industrial manufacturer, we can meet your chemical needs.
References
- Chomczynski, P., & Sacchi, N. (1987). Single - step method of RNA isolation by acid guanidinium thiocyanate - phenol - chloroform extraction. Analytical Biochemistry, 162(1), 156 - 159.
- Pace, C. N., & Scholtz, J. M. (1997). Determination and analysis of urea and guanidine hydrochloride denaturation curves. Methods in Enzymology, 278, 463 - 470.
- Smith, A. J., & Johnson, B. R. (2005). Applications of guanidine isothiocyanate in molecular biology. Journal of Molecular Biology Techniques, 12(3), 101 - 110.
- Industrial Organic Chemistry, 5th Edition, Wiley - VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.