Tranfer RNAs (tRNAs) are used as carriers or co-precipitants for helping in recovery of nucleic acids when alcohol precipitation method is used. Carrier or co-precipitants are inert substances that enhance recovery of nucleic acid when alcohol is used for precipitation. They are insoluble in ethanol or isopropanol solutions and form precipitate that helps to trap nucleic acids and seen as visible pellet after centrifugation. tRNA play a significant role in quantitative recovery of small amounts of nucleic acids in dilute solutions. For small amounts of nucleic acid precipitation, ethanol is preferred over isopropanol.
It is also used as a blocking agent in hybridization reactions where RNA probes are used like northern blot. It may also be used in studies that involve use of natural RNA in an in vivo and in vitro protein synthesizing system.
Features
- Added to the nucleic acid solution to a final concentration of 10-20 µg/ml to aid nucleic acid precipitation during alcohol precipitation
- DNase and RNase free, compatible with isolation of both RNA and DNA
Applications
- Carrier or co-precipitant for aiding recovery of nucleic acids during alcohol precipitation
- Blocking agent for hybridization reactions when RNA probes are used
- Usedin translation studies when natural RNA is used.