Actinomysin-based near IR emitting compounds and methods of their use as nucleic acid stains are provided. The actinomysin-based near IR emitting compounds have the structure: wherein R is H or NH2; R1, R2, R3, and R4 are independently a moiety comprising 1-30 atoms selected from H, O, C, and N, wherein the atoms are in a linear, branched, or cyclic configuration; R3 and/or R4 comprise a quaternary nitrogen atom; and R5 is H, F, or Cl.