Chemical structures of ethidium bromide and its amino analogs. (Top left) Ethidium, 3,8-diamino-5-ethyl-6-phenylphenanthridinium; (top right) 3-amino ethidium, 3-amino-5-ethyl-6-phenylphenanthridinium; (bottom left) 8-amino ethidium, 8-amino-5-ethyl-6-phenylphenanthridinium; and (bottom right) des-amino ethidium, 5-ethyl-6-phenylphenanthridinium.