Rapid and Cost-Effective RNA Extraction of Rat Pancreatic Tissue

Summary

The purity and integrity of the isolated RNA is a vital step in RNA dependent assays. Here, we present a practical, rapid, and inexpensive method to extract RNA from a small quantity of undamaged pancreatic tissue.

Abstract

Regardless of the extraction method, optimized RNA extraction of tissues and cell lines are carried out in four stages: 1) homogenization, 2) effective denaturation of proteins from RNA, 3) ribonuclease inactivation, and 4) removal of contamination from DNA, proteins, and carbohydrates. However, it is very laborious to maintain the integrity of RNA when there are high levels of RNase in the tissue. Spontaneous autolysis makes it very difficult to extract RNA from pancreatic tissue without damaging it. Thus, a practical RNA extraction method is needed to maintain the integrity of pancreatic tissues during the extraction process. An experimental and comparative study of existing protocols was carried out by obtaining 20-30 mg of rat pancreatic tissues in less than 2 minutes and extracting the RNA. The results were assessed by electrophoresis. The experiments were carried out three times for generalization of the results. Immersing pancreatic tissue in RNA stabilization reagent at -80 °C for 24 h yielded high integrity RNA, when the RNA extraction reagent was used as the reagent. The results obtained were comparable to the results obtained from commercial kits with spin column bindings.

Introduction

Structural gene data can be transcribed to a functional product through gene expression. RNA analysis is used to discover differences in gene expression across different conditions. There are a number of methods to extract nucleic acids as follows: guanidinium thiocyanate, extraction via phenol-chloroform, cellulose-based chromatography, extraction by silica matrices, and anion-exchange^1,2.

Proper detection of gene expression is influenced by the integrity of RNA isolated from tissues; therefore, it is vital to evaluate the integrity of RNA isolated from tissues before further tests....

Protocol

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (Approval number: 93-01-01-7178\03-07-2014).

NOTE: Use male Sprague–Dawley rats weighing 250 g. Place the vial containing a sliver of pancreatic tissue immersed in RNA stabilizing reagent in a liquid nitrogen tank at -80 °C and use RNA extraction reagent solution to maintain the integrity of RNA.

1. Removal of the rat pancreatic tissue

1. Pre.......

Discussion

In molecular biology it is vital to obtain high-quality RNA. The presence of the ribonuclease enzymes in cells and tissues quickly degrades RNA and makes the extraction complex. RNases are stable enzymes functioning without any co-factors. Small amounts of RNase are adequate to destroy RNA. When the rat pancreatic tissue is removed from the abdominal cavity, it is necessary to disinfect the surgical instruments by strong detergents, rinse them thoroughly and put them in an oven for at least 4 h at 240 °C to inactiva.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Agarose	Merck	116801	Germany
Atoclave	Teb Zaim		Iran
Centrifuge	Sigma		Germany
Chloroform	Merck	107024	Germany
Diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC)-treated water	Sigma		Germany
EDTA	sigma	60-00-4	Germany
Electrophoresis tank	Payapajoohesh		Iran
Eppendorf microTube	Extragene		Taiwan
EtBr	sigma	E 8751	Germany
Ethanol	Merck	81870	Germany
Falcon Tube	Extragene		Taiwan
Formaldehyde	Merck	344198	Germany
Formamide	Merck	344206	Germany
Homogenizer-sunicator	Microson XL 2000		USA
Isopropanol	sigma	19516	Germany
Ketamine hydrochloride	sigma	1867-66-9	Germany
Laminar Flow Hood	Jal Tajhiz		Iran
Mgnetic stirrer	Labrotechnik		USA
Microcentrifuge	Eppendorf		Germany
Micropipette Tips	Extragene		Taiwan
MOPS	sigma	85022106	Germany
Na AC	Merck	567422	Germany
NaOH	Merck	109137	Germany
Oven	Teb Zaim		Iran
PH meter	Knick		Germany
RNA Later/RNA stabilization reagent	Qiagen	76104	USA
Surgical instrument	Agn Thos		German made
Syringes	AvaPezeshk		Iran
TriPure reagent/RNA extraction reagent	Roche	11667157001	USA
Vortex	Labinco		Netherland
Water bath	Memmert		Germany
zylazine	sigma	7361-61-7	Germany