An improved method for the rapid isolation of brain ribonucleic acid

Abstract

An improved one-step method for the extraction of RNA from rat brain is described. Fresh or frozen tissue is disrupted in the powerful protein denaturant guanidine thiocyanate, and RNA isolated by ultracentrifugation through CsCl. The procedure is advantageous in that it is relatively simple, is rapid and does not expose the sample to enzyme treatments or repeated organic extractions.