Biotech Updates

Modifying RNA Extraction Methods for Better RNA Quality

May 27, 2015

A team of researchers led by Ingrid E. Jordan-Thaden from University of Florida developed an RNA extraction technique in a variety of plants. Their aim was to get high quality RNA from chemically complex plants through a fast, effective, and reliable RNA extraction method.

In the study, the researchers proposed three methods for RNA extraction, these include the use of TRIzol with sarkosyl as a solution, the addition of cetyltrimetyhlammonium bromide (CTAB) in TRIZol with sarkosyl and combination of CTAB and QIAGEN RNeasy Plant Mini Kit. These methods were applied to 91 plant taxa composed of woody, aromatic, and aquatic plants.

The results revealed that TRIzol with sarkosyl was the most effective and reliable method in extracting high quality RNA. This will be essential for better sequencing a plant's active genes or transcriptome.

Details of their study can be read at BioOne Online Journal.