Total RNA extraction from mononuclear cells based on acid guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform method
- 1.5 ml tubes;
- set of automatic pipettes ranging from 1 µl and 1 ml;
- centrifuge.
- 80% EtOH;
- Trizol (Invitrogen) or QIAzol (QIAGEN), or other analogous products;
- steril RNAse free water;
- chloroform;
- isopropanol;
- Pellet Paint® co-precipitant (optional).
1| Add 1 ml of Trizol to your suspension of mononuclear cells and pipette extensively for the liquid to become transparent.
CRITICAL STEP: Improper ratio Trizol reagent: sample may lead to insufficient cell lysis and affect the RNA yield. Use correct amount of lysis reagent. For example, use 1 ml of Trizol per up to 10^7 cells.
2| Add 200 µl of chloroform. Shake well.
3| Centrifuge at max speed for 20 minutes at +4.
4| Transfer the tubes on ice. While keeping the tube cool, transfer the upper phase into a new tube.
5| Add 1 µl of co-precipitant (optional) and 500 µl isopropanol.
6| Centrifuge at max speed for 20 minutes at +4.
7| Discard the supernatant.
8| Add 200 µl 80% EtOH.
9| Centrifuge at max speed for 2 minutes at +4.
10| Repeat steps 7-9 (optional).
11| Discard the supernatant.
12| Place the tube opened at 50 degrees. As soon as EtOH evaporates take the tube off the thermostat.
CRITICAL STEP: Do not overdry RNA - it leads to a decrease in recovery.
13| Dilute RNA in steril RNAse free water.
14| Check the amount and quality of RNA using gel-electrophoresis.