What is digoxygenin?

Digoxygenin (digoxigenin or DIG) is a steroid derivative molecule that is widely used in molecular biology for labeling probes for in situ hybridization, Southern and Northern blotting, and other applications. It is obtained from the leaves of the foxglove plant (Digitalis purpurea) and its molecular structure resembles that of the cardiac glycoside Digoxin, a medication used to treat heart failure and arrhythmias.

Digoxygenin is a small molecule (MW= 412.4 g/mol) that can be easily coupled to nucleotides, antibodies, or other molecules through reactive groups (e.g., amino, sulfhydryl, or carboxyl). This allows for the efficient detection and localization of specific target sequences or molecules in various biological samples using chemiluminescence, fluorescence, or colorimetric detection.

Digoxygenin-labeled probes are highly sensitive, specific, and stable, making them a popular choice for many molecular biology techniques. DIG detection systems are widely available from various commercial sources, making the detection process accessible to most laboratories.