guanidinethiocyanaat

Guanidinethiocyanaat, also known as guanidine thiocyanate or guanidinium thiocyanate, is a chemical compound with the formula C(NH₂)₃SCN. It is a salt formed from the guanidinium cation and the thiocyanate anion. This white crystalline solid is highly soluble in water and many organic solvents.

In molecular biology, guanidinium thiocyanate is widely recognized for its potent denaturing properties. It is a strong chaotropic agent, meaning it disrupts the structure of water molecules, thereby weakening hydrophobic interactions. This disruption causes proteins to unfold and nucleic acids to denature. This characteristic makes it a key component in various lysis buffers used for the extraction of DNA and RNA from biological samples. By denaturing proteins, including nucleases, it effectively inactivates enzymes that could degrade the nucleic acids of interest.

Beyond its use in molecular biology, guanidinium thiocyanate has found applications in other areas. It has been employed as a catalyst in certain chemical reactions and has been investigated for its potential in the synthesis of various organic compounds. Its ability to disrupt intermolecular forces also lends itself to applications in certain analytical techniques. The compound is typically handled with care due to its irritant properties.