Guanidinium thiocyanate

Guanidinium thiocyanate

Identifiers
CAS Number	593-84-0
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	58557
ECHA InfoCard	100.008.922
PubChem	65046
InChI InChI=1S/CH5N3.CHNS/c2-1(3)4;2-1-3/h(H5,2,3,4);3H Key: ZJYYHGLJYGJLLN-UHFFFAOYSA-N InChI=1/CH5N3.CHNS/c2-1(3)4;2-1-3/h(H5,2,3,4);3H Key: ZJYYHGLJYGJLLN-UHFFFAOYAS
SMILES N#CS.[N@H]=C(N)N
Properties
Chemical formula	C2H6N4S
Molar mass	118.16084
Hazards
Safety data sheet	External MSDS
EU classification (DSD)	Xn N
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Guanidinium thiocyanate (GITC) is a chemical compound used as a general protein denaturant, being a chaotropic agent, although it is most commonly used in the extraction of DNA and RNA.^[1]

Note: this compound may also be recognized as guanidine thiocyanate. This is because guanidinium is the conjugate acid of guanidine and is called the guanidinium cation, [CH₆N₃]⁺.

Guanidinium thiocyanate can be used to deactivate a virus, such as the influenza virus that caused the 1918 "Spanish flu", so that it can be studied safely. This application is presumably based on its denaturation activity.

Guanidinium thiocyanate is also used to lyse cells and virus particles in RNA and DNA extractions, where its function, in addition to its lysing action, is to prevent activity of RNase enzymes and DNase enzymes by denaturing them. These enzymes would otherwise damage the extract.

A commonly used method is guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform extraction. It is not strictly necessary to use phenol or chloroform if extracting RNA for Northern blotting or DNA for Southern blot analysis because the gel electrophoresis followed by transfer to a membrane will separate the RNA/DNA from the proteins. Additionally, since these methods use probes to bind to their conjugates, peptides that get through the process don't generally matter unless a peptide is an RNase or DNase, and then only if the enzyme manages to renature, which should not occur if proper protocols are followed. A possible exception might be when working with temperature extremophiles because some enzymes of these organisms can remain stable under extraordinary circumstances.^[2]

References

1. "The hydration structure of guanidinium and thiocyanate ions: Implications for protein stability in aqueous solution".
2. "Properties and reaction mechanism of the bioluminescence system of the deep-sea shrimp Oplophorus gracilorostris.".