摘要 |
A mechanical cell lysis technique involving the use of compaction protection technology to shield nucleic acids during mechanical lysis. Mechanical lysis is an efficient and widely used method of liberating the contents of microbial cells, but the shear sensitivity of large nucleic acids impairs the application of this technique to DNA purification. The invention uses compaction agents, small polycations that condense nucleic acids, to protect DNA from shear damage and allow mechanical lysis to be used in chromosomal and plasmid DNA purification. In addition to protecting DNA during lysis, compaction allows DNA to be pelleted with the insoluble cell debris, washed, and resolubilized to yield an enriched DNA product. Highly shear-sensitive nucleic acid molecules such as large plasmids and BACs can also be protected during lysis. An added benefit is that lysate viscosity is greatly reduced, allowing for reduced volumes compared to alkaline lysis.
|