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Electronic Journal of Biotechnology ISSN: 0717-3458 Vol. 9 No. 5, Issue of October 15, 2006
© 2006 by Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso -- Chile Received March 20, 2006 / Accepted May 23, 2006
DOI: 10.2225/vol9-issue5-fulltext-15  
TECHNICAL NOTE

Comparison of two total RNA extraction protocols using the marine gorgonian coral Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae and its symbiont Symbiodinium sp.

Lory Z. Santiago-Vázquez
Center of Excellence in Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Florida Atlantic University
777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton
FL 33431, USA
Tel: 561 297 2569
Fax: 561 297 2759
E-mail: santiago@fau.edu

Llanie K. Ranzer
Center of Excellence in Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Florida Atlantic University
777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton
FL 33431, USA
Tel: 561 297 2569
Fax: 561 297 2759
E-mail: lranzer@fau.edu

Russell G. Kerr*
Center of Excellence in Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Florida Atlantic University
777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton
FL 33431, USA
Tel: 561 297 2569
Fax: 561 297 2759
E-mail: rkerr@upei.ca

*Corresponding author

Financial support: This work was funded by the American Cancer Society RSG-97-170-04-CDD, Florida Sea Grant R/LR-MB-14, and the National Science Foundation grant 0119011. L. Ranzer was partially funded by the Florida Atlantic University Delores A. Auzenne Fellowship. This material is based upon worked supported by the National Science Foundation under a grant awarded in 2003 to L.Z. Santiago-Vázquez (award #0310283).

Keywords: dinoflagellate, RNA isolation, RNeasy minicolumns, trizol reagent.

Abbreviations:

RT-PCR: reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction
EDTA: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid
PVP: polyvinylpyrrolidone

Abstract
Full Text

Marine invertebrates such as soft corals are important sources of secondary metabolites with promising biomedical applications and commercial value. RNA isolation in conjunction with reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) are valuable tools utilized to study the molecular elements involved in secondary metabolite production and functional genomics. Two total RNA extraction protocols were compared using fresh tissue and flash frozen preparations from the coral Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae and from its symbiont Symbiodinium sp. isolated using RNeasy minicolumns (Qiagen®) and Trizol reagent (Invitrogen®). In general, higher yields were obtained by using Trizol reagent when compared to RNeasy. No significant differences were observed in RNA yield when live or flash frozen tissue was used. However, flash frozen holobiont tissue isolated by Trizol resulted in the highest RNA yield of all preparations analyzed. To conclude, both protocols are suitable for RNA isolation. Trizol is recommended if higher yields are the primary concern, but RNeasy is recommended if time is an issue.

Supported by UNESCO / MIRCEN network
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