A method for large reduction of the nucleic acid content of yeast

Abstract

Abstract A method for large reduction of nucleic acid content of Saccharomyces cercvisae is described. This method is based on yeast suspension in phosphate solution (50 mM ), heat shock following the Maul et al. ( Nature 228 , 181 (1970)) procedure, and dialysis or washing with phosphate solution of alkaline pH. When the extraction process is carried out at pH 12, sodium phosphate can be replaced by sodium chloride with the same results. Under these conditions the protein mg/nucleic acid mg ratio attains values of 50–60, (10 times the initial ratio). At this alkaline pH, washing can be done with distilled water with equally good results.