5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxycytidine (5-EdC)

Ethynyl-labeled deoxycytidine (5-EdC) can be used as a replacement for BrdU (5-Bromo-2’-deoxyuridine) to measure de novo DNA synthesis during the S-phase of the cell cycle. 5-EdC is cell-permeabel and incorporates into replicating DNA instead of its natural analog thymidine. The resulting ethynyl-functionalized DNA can subsequently be detected via Cu(I)-catalyzed click chemistry that offers the choice to introduce a Biotin group (Azides of Biotin) for subsequent purification tasks or a fluorescent group (Azides of fluorescent dyes) for subsequent microscopic imaging [1].