Table I.

Quantum Yields (Q), Decay Times (t), and Molar Extinction Coefficients (ε/λ_max) of Fluorophores in DNA

Probe	Donor/Acceptor	Q	〈τ〉a (ns)	ε/λex (M−1cm−1/nm)	ε/λmax (M−1cm−1/nm)
RuBD	Donor	0.008b	124.0	12,400/423	13,000/440
BO-PRO-3	Acceptor	0.62c	4.4	290/423	81,000/575

^aMean lifetimes were calculated using $\overline{\tau }=\sum f_i{\tau }_i$, where fi is the fractional steady-state contribution of each component to the total emission.

^bQuantum yield reference: 4-dicyanomethylene-2-methyl-6-(p-dimethylaminostyryl)4H-pyran in methanol (Q = 0.38).

^cFrom Molecular Probes, Inc.