Metachromasy

MANY dyes when used to colour certain tissue constituents (chromotropes) absorb light of wave-length shorter than that absorbed by the dyes in solution 1 . Similar metachromatic behaviour is exhibited in solution when the dyes interact with soluble chromotropes, for example nucleic acids 2 , polypho...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 1966-04, Vol.210 (5033), p.297-297
Main Authors: HILLSON, P. J., MCKAY, R. B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chemical Phenomena
Chemistry
Coloring Agents
Humanities and Social Sciences
letter
multidisciplinary
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Solutions
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Summary:MANY dyes when used to colour certain tissue constituents (chromotropes) absorb light of wave-length shorter than that absorbed by the dyes in solution 1 . Similar metachromatic behaviour is exhibited in solution when the dyes interact with soluble chromotropes, for example nucleic acids 2 , polyphosphates 3 and gelatine 4 . Metachromasy may also be induced in solution in the absence of chromotropic substances in three different ways 5 : by increasing the dye concentration (dye-induced), by adding salt (salt-induced) and by lowering the dielectric constant of the solvent from medium (about 20) to low (about 3) values (solvent-induced).
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/210297a0