Which stain requires hydrolysis to reveal its target?

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Multiple Choice

Which stain requires hydrolysis to reveal its target?

Explanation:
The key idea is that the Feulgen stain reveals DNA only after an acid hydrolysis step. In this method, DNA is treated with acid to hydrolyze deoxyribose and form aldehyde groups on the sugar moiety. These aldehyde groups then react with Schiff reagent to yield a magenta color, specifically highlighting DNA. Because this hydrolysis step is essential to expose those aldehyde groups, Feulgen staining uniquely depends on hydrolysis to target DNA. The other stains don’t require this pre-treatment: hematoxylin stains nuclei by binding to basophilic nucleic acids without hydrolysis, eosin stains cytoplasmic proteins, and methyl green-pyronin uses two dyes to differentiate DNA and RNA without any hydrolysis.

The key idea is that the Feulgen stain reveals DNA only after an acid hydrolysis step. In this method, DNA is treated with acid to hydrolyze deoxyribose and form aldehyde groups on the sugar moiety. These aldehyde groups then react with Schiff reagent to yield a magenta color, specifically highlighting DNA. Because this hydrolysis step is essential to expose those aldehyde groups, Feulgen staining uniquely depends on hydrolysis to target DNA. The other stains don’t require this pre-treatment: hematoxylin stains nuclei by binding to basophilic nucleic acids without hydrolysis, eosin stains cytoplasmic proteins, and methyl green-pyronin uses two dyes to differentiate DNA and RNA without any hydrolysis.

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