Method for isolating ribonucleic acid

摘要

A method for isolating a ribonucleic acid, which comprises dissolution of a sample containing the ribonucleic acid, such as cells, in an acidic solution containing a lithium salt and a chaotropic agent, bringing the ribonucleic acid into contact with a nucleic acid-binding carrier such as silica particles, thereby to allow selective adsorption of the ribonucleic acid alone onto said carrier, and eluting the ribonucleic acid from the nucleic acid-bound carrier; a reagent therefor; and a method for producing a cDNA from the ribonucleic acid isolated by this method. According to the present invention, a high purity ribonucleic acid can be isolated quickly and safely from a sample containing the ribonucleic acid.