Abstract: A phenol-free method for isolating a nucleic acid from a sample is provided, said method comprising the following steps: a) adding a precipitation buffer to a sample to prepare an acidic precipitation mixture wherein said precipitation buffer comprises a metal cation precipitant and a buffering agent, has a pH value of 4.0 or less and does not comprise an organic solvent selected from aprotic polar solvents and protic solvents and wherein the acidic precipitation mixture comprises the metal cation precipitant in a concentration of less than 200 mM and precipitating proteins; b) separating the precipitate from the supernatant, wherein the supernatant comprises small RNA having a length of less than 200 nt and large RNA having a length of at least 1000 nt; and c) isolating a nucleic acid from the supernatant. The present method allows to avoid the use of organic solvents during protein precipitation. Also provided is a precipitation buffer.

Abstract: A phenol-free method for isolating a nucleic acid from a sample is provided, said method comprising the following steps: a) adding a precipitation buffer to a sample to prepare an acidic precipitation mixture wherein said precipitation buffer comprises a metal cation precipitant and a buffering agent, has a pH value of 4.0 or less and does not comprise an organic solvent selected from aprotic polar solvents and protic solvents and wherein the acidic precipitation mixture comprises the metal cation precipitant in a concentration of less than 200 mM and precipitating proteins; b) separating the precipitate from the supernatant, wherein the supernatant comprises small RNA having a length of less than 200 nt and large RNA having a length of at least 1000 nt; and c) isolating a nucleic acid from the supernatant. The present method allows to avoid the use of organic solvents during protein precipitation. Also provided is a precipitation buffer.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for isolating a target nucleic acid including small target nucleic acids from a sample, said method comprising at least the following steps a) binding at least a portion of the target nucleic acid including small target nucleic acids to a nucleic acid binding solid phase comprised in a column by passing the sample through said column, b) performing an enzymatic and/or chemical treatment on the nucleic acid binding solid phase while the target nucleic acid is bound to said solid phase, c) collecting at least a portion of the small target nucleic acids released from the solid phase during said treatment of step b) as flow-through, d) contacting said flow-through which comprises small target nucleic acids mixed with a recovery solution with a nucleic acid binding solid phase for binding the contained small target nucleic acids to said nucleic acid binding solid phase, e) optionally performing an elution.

Abstract: The present invention pertains inter alia to a method for isolating poly(A) nucleic acids having a single stranded poly(A) stretch from a nucleic acid containing sample comprising: (a) providing a hybridization composition comprising: i) a nucleic acid containing sample; ii) a hybridization solution comprising: aa. a sodium salt; bb. a quaternary ammonium salt; wherein the components of the hybridization solution can be added as single solution to the sample or may be added separately in any order to the sample; iii) a capture probe capable of hybridizing to the poly(A) stretch of the poly(A) nucleic acids; and incubating said hybridization composition under conditions to form nucleic acid-hybrids between the poly(A) nucleic acids and the capture probe; (b) separating the formed hybrids from the remaining sample. The method is in particular suitable for efficiently isolating poly(A) RNA from various samples while avoiding carry-over of unwanted non-poly(A) nucleic acids such as rRNA.

Abstract: A phenol-free method for isolating a nucleic acid from a sample is provided, said method comprising the following steps: a) adding a precipitation buffer to a sample to prepare an acidic precipitation mixture wherein said precipitation buffer comprises a metal cation precipitant and a buffering agent, has a pH value of 4.0 or less and does not comprise an organic solvent selected from aprotic polar solvents and protic solvents and wherein the acidic precipitation mixture comprises the metal cation precipitant in a concentration of less than 200 mM and precipitating proteins; b) separating the precipitate from the supernatant, wherein the supernatant comprises small RNA having a length of less than 200 nt and large RNA having a length of at least 1000 nt; and c) isolating a nucleic acid from the supernatant. The present method allows to avoid the use of organic solvents during protein precipitation. Also provided is a precipitation buffer.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for isolating RNA, including small RNA from a RNA and DNA containing sample, wherein the sample is lysed and the optionally further processed lysate is incubated with a DNase to degrade DNA prior to purifying the RNA from the optionally further processed lysate. It was found that performing the DNase digest prior to isolating the RNA from the lysate has considerable advantages.

Abstract: The present invention pertains inter alia to a method for isolating poly(A) nucleic acids having a single stranded poly(A) stretch from a nucleic acid containing sample comprising: (a) providing a hybridization composition comprising: i) a nucleic acid containing sample; ii) a hybridization solution comprising: aa. a sodium salt; bb. a quaternary ammonium salt; wherein the components of the hybridization solution can be added as single solution to the sample or may be added separately in any order to the sample; iii) a capture probe capable of hybridizing to the poly(A) stretch of the poly(A) nucleic acids; and incubating said hybridization composition under conditions to form nucleic acid-hybrids between the poly(A) nucleic acids and the capture probe; (b) separating the formed hybrids from the remaining sample. The method is in particular suitable for efficiently isolating poly(A) RNA from various samples while avoiding carry-over of unwanted non-poly(A) nucleic acids such as rRNA.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method of isolating RNA from a sample comprising RNA, and DNA, comprising: a) adding an acidic denaturing composition comprising a chaotropic agent and phenol to the sample; b) adding a water-insoluble organic solvent and separating the resulting phases thereby forming a multi-phase mixture comprising an aqueous phase, optionally an interphase and an organic phase, wherein the RNA is concentrated in said aqueous phase and DNA and proteins are concentrated in said organic phase and/or in said interphase; and c) isolating said RNA from said aqueous phase, wherein at least one cationic detergent is added before separating the phases. It was found that the addition of at least one cationic detergent considerably reduces the amount of DNA in the aqueous, RNA containing phase. Therefore, the present invention allows to easily isolate pure RNA which comprises considerably less DNA contaminations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a filtering device comprising clay minerals for the filtration of aqueous solutions used in biochemical and molecular biological applications. In particular, the present invention relates to the removal of undesired proteins from aqueous solutions by filtration through a filter comprising clay minerals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for breaking down biological material, especially for obtaining biomolecules by ultrasound, the biological material being arranged, in a container together with a liquid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of reagent for permanently inactivating nucleases wherein the reagent comprises an oxidizing agent, a protein denaturant and optionally a pH adjustor and to a method for permanently inactivating nucleases using said reagent.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method of isolating RNA from a sample comprising RNA, and DNA, comprising: a) adding an acidic denaturing composition comprising a chaotropic agent and phenol to the sample; b) adding a water-insoluble organic solvent and separating the resulting phases thereby forming a multi-phase mixture comprising an aqueous phase, optionally an interphase and an organic phase, wherein the RNA is concentrated in said aqueous phase and DNA and proteins are concentrated in said organic phase and/or in said interphase; and c) isolating said RNA from said aqueous phase, wherein at least one cationic detergent is added before separating the phases. It was found that the addition of at least one cationic detergent considerably reduces the amount of DNA in the aqueous, RNA containing phase. Therefore, the present invention allows to easily isolate pure RNA which comprises considerably less DNA contaminations.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for isolating a target nucleic acid including small target nucleic acids from a sample, said method comprising at least the following steps a) binding at least a portion of the target nucleic acid including small target nucleic acids to a nucleic acid binding solid phase comprised in a column by passing the sample through said column, b) performing an enzymatic and/or chemical treatment on the nucleic acid binding solid phase while the target nucleic acid is bound to said solid phase, c) collecting at least a portion of the small target nucleic acids released from the solid phase during said treatment of step b) as flow-through, d) contacting said flow-through which comprises small target nucleic acids mixed with a recovery solution with a nucleic acid binding solid phase for binding the contained small target nucleic acids to said nucleic acid binding solid phase, e) optionally performing an elution.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for isolating RNA, including small RNA from a RNA and DNA containing sample, wherein the sample is lysed and the optionally further processed lysate is incubated with a DNase to degrade DNA prior to purifying the RNA from the optionally further processed lysate. It was found that performing the DNase digest prior to isolating the RNA from the lysate has considerable advantages.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for breaking down biological material, especially for obtaining biomolecules by ultrasound, the biological material being arranged, in a container together with a liquid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of reagent for permanently inactivating nucleases wherein the reagent comprises an oxidizing agent, a protein denaturant and optionally a pH adjustor and to a method for permanently inactivating nucleases using said reagent.