Protocol for Total RNA Isolation from Cells
- Document # 27175
- Version 1.0.0
- Dec 2019
The following protocol is for total RNA isolation from cells using the Total RNA Purification Kit (Catalog #79040). For complete instructions, refer to the Technical Manual (Document #10000005434).
Directions
A. Preparation of Cell Lysate
Prepare cell lysate from adherent cells or cells in suspension, as indicated below.
From Adherent Cells
- Aspirate cell culture medium. Add ice-cold sterile D-PBS as indicated in Table 1. Aspirate D-PBS.
- Add RNA Lysis Buffer + TG as indicated in Table 1. Gently rock the plate or flask to completely cover the adherent cells with buffer. Pipette the lysate up and down over the cultureware surface 7 – 10 times.
- Collect the lysate and transfer to a new microcentrifuge tube.
- Add 100% isopropanol as indicated in Table 1. Mix by vortexing for 5 seconds.
- Proceed to RNA isolation.
Table 1. Recommended Volumes of PBS, RNA Lysis Buffer + TG, and 100% Isopropanol for Various Cultureware
From Cells in Suspension
- In a sterile centrifuge tube, centrifuge cell suspension at 300 x g for 5 minutes. Remove and discard supernatant.
- Add ice-cold, sterile D-PBS to wash cells. Centrifuge at 300 x g for 5 minutes. Remove as much supernatant as possible and discard.
- Add RNA Lysis Buffer + TG as indicated in Table 2. Mix well by pipetting up and down 7 - 10 times, or by vortexing. For > 2 x 106 cells, pass the lysate through a 20-gauge needle 4 - 5 times to shear the genomic DNA.
- Add 100% isopropanol as indicated in Table 2. Mix by vortexing for 5 seconds.
- Proceed to RNA isolation.
Table 2. Recommended Volumes of RNA Lysis Buffer + TG and Isopropanol per Cell Input Range
B. RNA Isolation
- Insert minicolumn into Collection Tube.
- Transfer the lysate to the minicolumn assembly.
- Centrifuge at 12,000 - 14,000 x g for 30 seconds. Discard the liquid in the Collection Tube and reinsert minicolumn into Collection Tube.
- Add 500 μL RNA Wash Buffer to the minicolumn. Centrifuge at 12,000 - 14,000 x g for 30 seconds. Discard the liquid in the Collection Tube and reinsert minicolumn into Collection Tube.
- Prepare DNase I Incubation Mix by combining the reagents as indicated in Table 3, per sample, in the order listed.
- Mix by gently pipetting up and down; do not vortex. Store on ice.
- Add 30 μL of fresh DNase I Incubation Mix directly to the minicolumn membrane. Incubate at room temperature (15 - 25°C) for 15 minutes.
- Add 200 μL of Column Wash Buffer (with ethanol added) to the minicolumn. Centrifuge at 12,000 - 14,000 x g for 15 seconds.
- Add 500 μL of RNA Wash Buffer (with ethanol added) to the minicolumn. Centrifuge at 12,000 - 14,000 x g for 30 seconds. Remove the minicolumn and transfer to a new Collection Tube. Discard the Collection Tube containing wash buffer.
- Add 300 μL of RNA Wash Buffer to the minicolumn. Centrifuge at high speed for 2 minutes.
- Transfer minicolumn to an Elution Tube. Add nuclease-free water to the minicolumn membrane as indicated in Table 4. Incubate at room temperature for 1 - 2 minutes. Centrifuge at 12,000 - 14,000 x g for 1 minute.
- Remove and discard minicolumn. Store purified RNA at -80ºC.
Table 3. Preparation of DNase I Incubation Mix
Table 4. Recommended Volume of Nuclease-Free Water per Input Cell Range
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