Diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC) is a moisture sensitive product that will readily decompose to ethanol and carbon dioxide in aqueous solution. DEPC can inhibit ryanodine binding to the ryanodine/Ca2+ receptor channel in a dose-and time-dependent manner, or work as a nuclease inhibitor. DEPC is often used to treat water used in the handling of RNA to remove RNases and reduce the risk of the RNA being degraded.