A reagent for the single-step simultaneous isolation of RNA, DNA and proteins from cell and tissue samples.

TLDR

The study introduces a method for simultaneous isolation of RNA, DNA, and proteins from cell and tissue samples. The method uses a phenol‑guanidine thiocyanate reagent that homogenizes samples and achieves simultaneous RNA, DNA, and protein extraction via liquid‑phase separation. RNA is isolated in about 1 h and DNA and proteins in about 3 h, yielding material suitable for Northern, Southern, and Western blotting, and complete DNA recovery allows normalization of gene‑expression data to DNA content.

Abstract

This report describes a new method for simultaneous isolation of RNA, DNA and proteins from cell and tissue samples. The method is based on the use of a reagent containing phenol and guanidine thiocyanate. A biological sample is homogenized in the reagent and the simultaneous isolation of RNA, DNA and proteins is accomplished in a single step by a liquid-phase separation. The isolation of RNA can be completed in about 1 h, and DNA and proteins in about 3 h. The simultaneously isolated RNA, DNA and proteins are ready for Northern, Southern and Western blotting. The complete recovery of DNA from samples used for the RNA and protein isolation makes it possible to normalize the results of gene expression studies based on DNA content instead of on the more variable total RNA, protein content or tissue weight.