RNase-Free Buffers and Reagents

Tris-EDTA (TE) is a commonly used pH buffer for labs storing RNA and DNA samples. TE buffer consists of 10 mM Tris (adjusted to the specified pH with HCl) and 1 mM EDTA. These TE buffers are filtered through a 0.2 μm filter into a sterile autoclavable bottle, are nuclease-free, and ready for use without additional preparation.

Features of RNase-free TE buffer include:

• Available in pH 7.0 or 8.0
• Certified RNase-free
• Regular quality control lot testing for contaminating non-specific endonucleases, exonucleases, and RNases
• Manufactured in facilities that are designed to prevent nuclease contamination

Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) is a phosphate buffer saline solution used in a cell culture applications. RNase-free PBS helps keep contaminants out of samples and research. PBS that is considered molecular biology grade should not contain contaminants such as proteases, RNases, and DNases.

Features of RNase-free PBS include:

• 10X dilution— ready to use upon dilution to the desired concentration
• Certified RNase-free
• Regular quality control lot testing for contaminating non-specific endonucleases, exonucleases, and RNases

Glycogen is a carbohydrate molecule widely used in labs to co-precipitate with RNA or DNA for nucleic acid recovery. Similarly, GlycoBlue coprecipitant has a blue dye molecule linked to glycogen for visibility of the nucleic acid pellet.

Both Glycogen and GlycoBlue coprecipitant have the following features:

• Ideal with RT-PCR
• Increases pellet mass and visibility
• Quantitative recovery of low concentrations (ng/mL) of nucleic acid
• Prevents pellet loss in nuclease protection assays
• RNase- and DNase-free

Proteinase K is commonly used in molecular biology labs to treat for contaminating nucleases (RNase, DNase). Proteinase K is a serine protease that digests a broad range of proteins.

Recombinant Proteinase K solutions can be used for:

• Preparation of RNA and high molecular weight DNA for gel electrophoresis
• Terminate enzymatic reactions, such as phosphatase or nuclease treatments
• Treatment of samples with high protein concentrations to facilitate downstream phenol extraction

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is a chemical that is universally used in labs for RNA sample storage. Features of RNase-free EDTA include:

• Prepared in nuclease-free (RNase-free, DNase-free), ultrapure water

Sheared salmon sperm DNA is a common blocking reagent used in molecular biology labs. It is useful in blocking during northern prehybridization and hybridization. Features of RNase-free salmon sperm DNA include:

• Treated with Proteinase K
• RNase- and DNase-free

Tris solution is used in molecular biology labs in electrophoresis assays. Tris is the main ingredient for TAE (Tris acetate EDTA) and TBE (Tris borate EDTA) buffers regularly used in DNA gel electrophoresis. RNase-free Tris has the following features:

• Available in pH 8.0
• RNase-free
• Regular lot testing for contaminating non-specific endonucleases, exonucleases, and RNases

THE RNA Storage Solution is an RNA stabilizing solution used to resuspend and store RNA for future downstream assays, such as:

• RT-PCR
• In vitro transcription
• Northern analysis
• Nuclease protection assays

View other RNA stabilizers