This work was funded by the University of Virginia and the Jeffress Memorial Trust (J-971). We thank L. Columbus, K. Jain, and P. Randolph for helpful discussions and critical reading of the manuscript.

1. Benedict's Assay for Reducing Sugars
<ol>
 <li>Prepare a suitable quantity of Benedict's reagent - 940 mM anhydrous sodium carbonate, 588 mM sodium citrate dehydrate, 68 mM copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate. This reagent can be stored at room temperature (RT) for at least six months with no noticeable change in reactivity.</li>
 <li>The above reagent is 6x. Thus, for 600 &mu;l reactions, add 100 &mu;l of Benedict's reagent to a clean 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube (e.g., Eppendorf brand), per sample to be assayed.</li>
 <li>Add anywhere from 10 &mu;l to 500 &mu;l of sample to this tube; the optimal volume can be determined based on the intensity of color formation in an initial trial run. If sufficient sample is available then begin such trials at the maximal possible sample volume (i.e., five-sixths of the overall reaction volume, 500 &mu;l of sample in this case), and then dilute in subsequent assays.</li>
 <li>Add ddH2O to the tube to bring the final volume to 600 &mu;l; mix the solution by vortexing or pipetting.</li>
 <li>Incubate the samples for 20 min in a boiling water bath.</li>
 <li>Remove the heated sample from the bath and allow it to cool at RT for 10 min.</li>
 <li>Centrifuge the sample tube at &gt; 9,300 x g (~10,000 rpm in an FA45-24-11 Eppendorf fixed-angle rotor) for 5 min in order to sediment any particulate material; this step is more important for quantitative rather than qualitative studies.</li>
 <li>Aliquot the supernatant from this tube into a clean cuvette.</li>
 <li>Blank the uv-vis spectrophotometer with water.</li>
 <li>Measure the absorbance of this sample at 475 nm.</li>
</ol>
2. Bial's Orcinol Assay for Pentose Sugars
<ol>
 <li>Prepare a suitable quantity of fresh Bial's reagent - 24.2 mM orcinol monohydrate (see Figure 2b for the structure of this compound), 6 M HCl, 0.025% w/v ferric chloride hexahydrate. Note: For extended storage, the Bial's reagent can be prepared as two separate stock solutions: (i) Reagent A [0.05% w/v FeCl3&bull;6H2O in concentrated HCl] and (ii) Reagent B [422 mM orcinol monohydrate prepared in 95% ethanol]. Reagent A can be stored at RT for six months; Reagent B can be stored at 4 &deg;C for one month, covered with foil to limit light exposure. These stock solutions are mixed in a 15 (A) : 1 (B) v/v ratio prior to use.</li>
 <li>The above reagent is 2x. Thus, for 1.0 ml reactions, add 500 &mu;l of Bial's reagent to a clean 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube, per sample to be assayed.</li>
 <li>Add anywhere from 10 &mu;l to 500 &mu;l of sample to this tube. As per note 1.3 (above), if sufficient sample is available then begin trial reactions using the maximal possible sample volume (i.e., one-half the overall reaction volume, 500 &mu;l of sample in this case) and dilute from there.</li>
 <li>Add ddH2O to the tube to bring the final volume to 1.0 ml; mix the solution by vortexing or pipetting.</li>
 <li>Incubate the samples for 20 min in a boiling water bath.</li>
 <li>Remove the heated sample from the bath and allow it to cool at RT for 10 min.</li>
 <li>Centrifuge the sample tube at &gt; 9,300 x g (~10,000 rpm in an FA45-24-11 Eppendorf fixed-angle rotor) for 5 min in order to sediment any particulate material; this step is more important for quantitative rather than qualitative studies.</li>
 <li>Aliquot the supernatant from this tube into a clean cuvette for visual inspection.</li>
 <li>For semi-quantitative analysis, blank the uv-vis spectrophotometer with water and measure the absorbance of the cuvette sample at 660 nm.</li>
</ol>
3. Dische's Diphenylamine Assay for 2'-deoxypentose Sugars
<ol>
 <li>Prepare a suitable quantity of Dische's diphenylamine reagent - 60 mM diphenylamine, 11 M glacial acetic acid, 179 mM sulfuric acid, 0.62% v/v ethanol. This reagent can be prepared in advance and stored at RT in a dark container, or covered with foil, to limit light exposure. Due to light sensitivity the reagent should not be stored indefinitely, though in practice it can be prepared every two to three months with no apparent change in reactivity.</li>
 <li>The above reagent is 2x. Thus, for 1.0 ml reactions, add 500 &mu;l of Dische's reagent to a clean 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube, per sample to be assayed.</li>
 <li>Add anywhere from 10 &mu;l to 500 &mu;l of sample to this tube. As per note 1.3 (above), if sufficient sample is available then begin trial reactions using the maximal possible sample volume (i.e., one-half the overall reaction volume, 500 &mu;l of sample in this case) and dilute from there.</li>
 <li>Add ddH2O to the tube to bring the final volume to 1.0 ml; mix the solution by vortexing or pipetting.</li>
 <li>Incubate the samples for 20 min in a boiling water bath.</li>
 <li>Remove the heated sample from the bath and allow it to cool at RT for 10 min.</li>
 <li>Centrifuge the sample tube at &gt;9,300 x g (~10,000 rpm in an FA45-24-11 Eppendorf fixed-angle rotor) for 5 min in order to sediment any particulate material; this step is more important for quantitative rather than qualitative studies.</li>
 <li>Aliquot the supernatant from this tube into a clean cuvette for visual inspection.</li>
 <li>For semi-quantitative analysis, blank the uv-vis spectrophotometer with water and measure the absorbance of the cuvette sample at 600 nm.</li>
</ol>
4. Further Usage Notes
<ol>
 <li>The following classes of molecules are suitable reference compounds for positive and negative control reactions for each assay:
 <ul>
 <li>Benedict's - Positive = free ribose, fructose, glucose; Negative = RNA, DNA, ATP, etc. (any saccharide lacking a free reducing sugar functionality)</li>
 <li>Bial's - Positive = RNA (e.g. baker's yeast extract), ribose, ATP, UMP; Negative = bovine serum albumin (BSA) or any other protein</li>
 <li>Dische's - Positive = DNA (e.g. calf thymus); Negative = RNA, ATP, etc. (any non-2'-deoxygenated nucleotide)</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>These assays have been found to be fairly resilient to compounds often used in protein purification; for instance, common salts such as NaCl, (NH4)2SO4, and K2SO4 did not interfere, and the reactions appear generally unaffected by the contents of the diluent. Detergents or chaotropic agents such as urea may affect the reactivity of the assays if the pH is highly basic; a neutral to acidic pH range is generally most optimal for the Bial's and Dische's assays because of the underlying reaction chemistry (see the text and the protons in Figure 2b, c). Potentially suboptimal reaction conditions, suspected interferents, etc. should be tested on a case-by-case basis, using positive and negative control experiments with reference compounds.</li>
</ol>

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M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Short Protocols in Molecular Biology: A Compendium of Methods from Current Protocols in Molecular Biology. , (1999).</li><li>Voet, D., Voet, J. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Biochemistry. , (2011).</li><li>Adams, R. L. P., Knowler, J. T., Leader, D. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> The Biochemistry of the Nucleic Acids. , (1986).</li><li>Rice, P. A., Correll, C. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Protein-nucleic acid interactions: Structural biology. , (2008).</li><li>Bowman, J. C., Lenz, T. K., Hud, N. V., Williams, L. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cations+in+charge:+Magnesium+ions+in+RNA+folding+and+catalysis.">Cations in charge: Magnesium ions in RNA folding and catalysis.</a> Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol. , (2012).</li><li>Balandina, A., Kamashev, D., Rouviere-Yaniv, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+bacterial+histone-like+protein+HU+specifically+recognizes+similar+structures+in+all+nucleic+acids.+DNA,+RNA,+and+their+hybrids.">The bacterial histone-like protein HU specifically recognizes similar structures in all nucleic acids. DNA, RNA, and their hybrids.</a> J. Biol. Chem. 277, 27622-27628 (1074).</li><li>Graslund, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Protein+production+and+purification.">Protein production and purification.</a> Nat. Methods. 5, 135-146 (2008).</li><li>Pagano, J. M., Clingman, C. C., Ryder, S. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Quantitative+approaches+to+monitor+protein-nucleic+acid+interactions+using+fluorescent+probes.">Quantitative approaches to monitor protein-nucleic acid interactions using fluorescent probes.</a> RNA. 17, 14-20 (2011).</li><li>Benedict, S. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+reagent+for+the+detection+of+reducing+sugars.">A reagent for the detection of reducing sugars.</a> J. Biol. Chem. 277, e5 (1908).</li><li>Endo, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+simultaneous+estimation+method+of+DNA+and+RNA+by+the+orcinol+reaction+and+a+study+on+the+reaction+mechanism.">A simultaneous estimation method of DNA and RNA by the orcinol reaction and a study on the reaction mechanism.</a> J. Biochem. 67, 629-633 (1970).</li><li>Almog, R., Shirey, T. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+modified+orcinol+test+for+the+specific+determination+of+RNA.">A modified orcinol test for the specific determination of RNA.</a> Anal. Biochem. 91, 130-137 (1978).</li><li>Dische, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=New+color+reactions+for+determination+of+sugars+in+polysaccharides.">New color reactions for determination of sugars in polysaccharides.</a> Methods Biochem. Anal. 2, 313-358 (1955).</li><li>Burton, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+study+of+the+conditions+and+mechanism+of+the+diphenylamine+reaction+for+the+colorimetric+estimation+of+deoxyribonucleic+acid.">A study of the conditions and mechanism of the diphenylamine reaction for the colorimetric estimation of deoxyribonucleic acid.</a> Biochemical Journal. 62, 315-323 (1956).</li><li>Vogel, J., Luisi, B. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hfq+and+its+constellation+of+RNA.">Hfq and its constellation of RNA.</a> Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 9, 578-589 (2011).</li><li>Deckert, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Protein+composition+and+electron+microscopy+structure+of+affinity-purified+human+spliceosomal+B+complexes+isolated+under+physiological+conditions.">Protein composition and electron microscopy structure of affinity-purified human spliceosomal B complexes isolated under physiological conditions.</a> Mol. Cell Biol. 26, 5528-5543 (2006).</li><li>Stevens, S. W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Composition+and+functional+characterization+of+the+yeast+spliceosomal+penta-snRNP.">Composition and functional characterization of the yeast spliceosomal penta-snRNP.</a> Mol. Cell. 9, 31-44 (2002).</li><li>Sapan, C. V., Lundblad, R. L., Price, N. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Colorimetric+protein+assay+techniques.">Colorimetric protein assay techniques.</a> Biotechnol. Appl. 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No conflicts of interest declared.

The colorimetric assays presented here offer a simple approach to rapidly assess the chemical nature of biomolecular mixtures, such as are encountered when purifying proteins, RNAs or complexes from whole-cell lysate in preparation for further studies. As structural biology pursues more native-like assemblies, progressively greater challenges, such as sample heterogeneity, will be posed by the intricate and multi-component complexes. Supramolecular assemblies are often only marginally stable, and their successful isolati...

Much of cell biology occurs via molecular interactions involving DNA and RNA.4 These naturally occurring nucleic acids (NAs) interact with one another,5 with proteins,6 and with a host of small-molecule compounds and ligands in vivo (e.g., divalent cations7). The interactions may be short- or long-lived (kinetically), may range from high to moderate to low affinity (thermodynamic strength), and can also exhibit substantial variation in chemical properties and specificity - some associations are quite specific (e.g., DNA&middot;&middot;&middot;transcription factors, RNA&middot;&middot;&middot;splicing factors), while other interactions are necessarily far more generic (e.g., DNA&middot;&middot;&middot;bacterial histone-like HU proteins8). Non-specific interactions with NAs can have practical consequences for in vitro experiments involving mixtures of biomolecules, as it is possible, and even likely, that some NAs will associate with the biomolecules of interest, at least under some subset of the experimental conditions being used (ionic strength, solution pH, etc).
Consider, for instance, production of a protein of interest (POI) via heterologous over-expression of the recombinant protein in Escherichia coli cell culture; such a procedure is routinely performed in virtually any structural biology lab.9 In preparing for further experiments, such as biochemical/biophysical characterization, crystallization, etc., initial efforts generally focus on obtaining a sufficient quantity of the POI in as pure a form as possible, ideally as a chemically homogeneous and biophysically monodisperse specimen. After disruption of host cells, the early stages of a typical purification workflow aim to isolate the POI from E. coli proteins, nucleic acids, cell wall debris, and other components of the cellular lysate. However, host NAs may co-purify with the POI for several physicochemical reasons - a highly basic POI may non-specifically pull-down host DNA/RNA; the POI may have a generic NA-binding activity (e.g., the aforementioned HU); the POI may be a fairly specific NA-binding protein but exhibit cross-reactivity with host RNAs or DNAs; host NAs may interact with a chromatography matrix and thereby simply co-elute with the POI; and so on. Indiscriminate, high-affinity binding of host NAs to a POI can pose a vexing problem because the NA impurities will likely interfere with downstream experiments (e.g., fluorescence anisotropy assays of POI&bull;RNA binding10). Alternatively, unanticipated POI&middot;&middot;&middot;NA associations also can be viewed fortuitously, as such interactions illuminate the POI's nucleic acid-binding capacity. Either way, whether NAs are key components or contaminants, one must first quantify and identify the type (DNA, RNA) of co-purifying NAs in preparation for downstream experiments.
Several analytical methods exist for detecting and quantitating NAs in a sample. Most of the available methods are fundamentally either spectrophotometric (e.g., A260 absorbance values and A260/A280 ratios), fluorometric (e.g., binding of thiazole orange or other fluorescent dyes to NA), or colorimetric (susceptibility of nucleosides to chemical reactions that yield chromophores absorbing in the uv-vis region of the electromagnetic spectrum), as recently described by De Mey et al.1 However, the crucial step of identifying the type of polynucleotide as RNA or DNA is beyond the scope of many of these quantitation approaches. Here we provide a set of colorimetric assays to rapidly identify the types of NA components in a proteinaceous sample.
The protocols described here can be efficiently executed without additional steps of isolating the potential NA impurities, and rely on Benedict's assay for reducing sugars11, the orcinol assay for pentoses12,13, and diphenylamine reactions14,15 of 2'-deoxypentoses (Figures 1 and 2). The Benedict's test (Figure 2a) utilizes the ability of the linear, open-chain (aldehyde) form of an aldose sugar to reduce Cu2+, with concomitant oxidation of the sugar's carbonyl to a carboxylate moiety and production of Cu2O as an insoluble red precipitate. This reaction will test positive with free reducing sugars such as aldoses and ketoses (which convert to the corresponding aldoses via enediol intermediates), but not with pentose sugars that are locked into cyclic form as part of the covalent backbone of a DNA or RNA polynucleotide. Because of the minimalistic requirement of a free hemiacetal functionality, other compounds that could test positive in this assay - and therefore act as potential interferents - include &alpha;-hydroxy-ketones and short oligosaccharides (e.g. the disaccharide maltose). Both the Bial's orcinol (Figure 2b) and Dische's diphenylamine (Figure 2c) reactions are based on initial destruction of the polynucleotide backbone, via depurination of the nucleoside and further acid- or base-catalyzed hydrolysis of the parent nucleotides, to yield furan-2-carbaldehyde (furfural) derivatives; these derivatives then react with either a polyhydroxy phenol such as orcinol (Bial's) or diphenylamine (Dische's) reagents to form colored condensation products of largely unknown chemical structure. The DNA versus RNA specificity of the Dische's assay stems from the fact that the pentose sugar must be 2'-deoxygenated in order to be susceptible to oxidation to &omega;-hydroxylevulinyl aldehyde, which further reacts with diphenylamine under acidic conditions to yield a bright blue condensate (Figure 2c). Using the streamlined protocols described here, we have found that these sugar-specific colorimetric reactions can differentiate between RNA and DNA, and will also indicate the presence of free reducing sugars such as glucose, fructose, or ribose in a biomolecular sample.

<table border="1">
 <tbody>
 <tr>
 <td>Reagent or equipment</td>
 <td>Supplier/company</td>
 <td>Catalog number</td>
 <td>Comments, notes</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Anhydrous sodium carbonate</td>
 <td>Fisher Scientific</td>
 <td>S263</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Sodium citrate dihydrate</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>S-4641</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate</td>
 <td>VWR</td>
 <td>VW3312-2</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Orcinol monohydrate</td>
 <td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
 <td>O1875</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Concentrated HCl</td>
 <td>VWR</td>
 <td>BDH3030</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Ferric chloride hexahydrate</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>F-2877</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Diphenylamine</td>
 <td>Aldrich</td>
 <td>112763</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Glacial acetic acid</td>
 <td>Fisher Scientific</td>
 <td>A28</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Sulfuric acid</td>
 <td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
 <td>258105</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Ethanol</td>
 <td>Koptec</td>
 <td>V1101</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Ribose</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>R-7500</td>
 <td>prep at 1% w/v in H2O</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Ribonucleic acid from baker's yeast (S. cerevisiae)</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>R6750</td>
 <td>prep at 10 mg/ml in H2O; store at -20 &deg;C</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Deoxyribonucleic acid (sodium salt), from calf thymus</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>D1501</td>
 <td>prep at 10 mg/ml in H2O; store at 4 &deg;C</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 <td>
 Reagents, Equipment &amp; Safety
 Materials are listed in the following table in the order in which they appear in the Protocol section. Unless otherwise noted (above), all reagents can be stored at ambient room temperature and lighting. For any items not listed below (e.g., microcentrifuge tubes), the usual make / model / variety found in a standard biochemical laboratory can be used (e.g., Eppendorf brand 1.5 ml microfuge tubes). Standard plastic microfuge tubes should be used for steps involving centrifugation (e.g., to sediment particulate material near the end of each protocol). No particular material is preferable, as long as the tubes can be sealed; the typical polypropylene tubes found in biochemistry laboratories work well. In terms of safety concerns and waste disposal, standard laboratory precautions (safety glasses, fume hoods) should be exercised in pre-paring, working with, and disposing of solutions containing concentrated acetic, hydrochloric, or sulfuric acids. For organic reagents such as orcinol or diphenylamine, nitrile gloves are preferable to the common latex (natural rubber) variety.</td>
 </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>

rapid colorimetric assays to qualitatively distinguish rna and dna in biomolecular samples

Biochemical experimentation generally requires accurate knowledge, at an early stage, of the nucleic acid, protein, and other biomolecular components in potentially heterogeneous specimens. Nucleic acids can be detected via several established approaches, including analytical methods that are spectrophotometric (e.g., A260), fluorometric (e.g., binding of fluorescent dyes), or colorimetric (nucleoside-specific chromogenic chemical reactions).1 Though it cannot readily distinguish RNA from DNA, the A260/A280 ratio is commonly employed, as it offers a simple and rapid2 assessment of the relative content of nucleic acid, which absorbs predominantly near 260 nm and protein, which absorbs primarily near 280 nm. Ratios &lt; 0.8 are taken as indicative of 'pure' protein specimens, while pure nucleic acid (NA) is characterized by ratios &gt; 1.53.
However, there are scenarios in which the protein/NA content cannot be as clearly or reliably inferred from simple uv-vis spectrophotometric measurements. For instance, (i) samples may contain one or more proteins which are relatively devoid of the aromatic amino acids responsible for absorption at &asymp;280 nm (Trp, Tyr, Phe), as is the case with some small RNA-binding proteins, and (ii) samples can exhibit intermediate A260/A280 ratios (~0.8 &lt; ~1.5), where the protein/NA content is far less clear and may even reflect some high-affinity association between the protein and NA components. For such scenarios, we describe herein a suite of colorimetric assays to rapidly distinguish RNA, DNA, and reducing sugars in a potentially mixed sample of biomolecules. The methods rely on the differential sensitivity of pentoses and other carbohydrates to Benedict's, Bial's (orcinol), and Dische's (diphenylamine) reagents; the streamlined protocols can be completed in a matter of minutes, without any additional steps of having to isolate the components. The assays can be performed in parallel to differentiate between RNA and DNA, as well as indicate the presence of free reducing sugars such as glucose, fructose, and ribose (Figure 1).

Results are shown in Figure 3 for application of these colorimetric assays to known reference compounds. Representative qualitative data are shown for the Benedict's (a), Bial's orcinol (b), and Dische's diphenylamine (c) assays, and standard curves for these three assays are shown in Figure 4. In panels 3(a-c), the left panels show positive/negative control experiments using suitably reactive/unreactive analytes; these visual results are shown in situ, in the cuvettes as descri...

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Rapid Colorimetric Assays to Qualitatively Distinguish RNA and DNA in Biomolecular Samples

A suite of colorimetric assays is described for rapidly distinguishing protein, RNA, DNA, and reducing sugars in potentially heterogeneous biomolecular samples.

Biochemical experimentation generally requires accurate knowledge, at an early stage, of the nucleic acid, protein, and other biomolecular components in ...

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41.5K Views.  University of Virginia. A suite of colorimetric assays is described for rapidly distinguishing protein, RNA, DNA, and reducing sugars in potentially heterogeneous biomolecular samples.

Video: Rapid Colorimetric Assays to Qualitatively Distinguish RNA and DNA in Biomolecular Samples

Rapid High Throughput Amylose Determination in Freeze Dried Potato Tuber Samples

This protocol describes a high through put colorimetric method that relies on the formation of a complex between iodine and chains of glucose molecules in starch. Iodine forms complexes with both amylose and long chains within amylopectin. After the addition of iodine to a starch sample, the maximum absorption of amylose and amylopectin occurs at 620 and 550 nm, respectively. The amylose/amylopectin ratio can be estimated from the ratio of the 620 and 550 nm absorbance values and comparing them to a standard curve in which specific known concentrations are plotted against absorption values. This high throughput, inexpensive method is reliable and reproducible, allowing the evaluation of large populations of potato clones.&#160;

This protocol describes a high through put colorimetric method that relies on the formation of a complex between iodine and chains of glucose molecules in ...

Formation of Ordered Biomolecular Structures by the Self-assembly of Short Peptides

In nature, complex functional structures are formed by the self-assembly of biomolecules under mild conditions. Understanding the forces that control self-assembly and mimicking this process in vitro will bring about major advances in the areas of materials science and nanotechnology. Among the available biological building blocks, peptides have several advantages as they present substantial diversity, their synthesis in large scale is straightforward, and they can easily be modified with biological and chemical entities1,2. Several classes of designed peptides such as cyclic peptides, amphiphile peptides and peptide-conjugates self-assemble into ordered structures in solution. Homoaromatic dipeptides, are a class of short self-assembled peptides that contain all the molecular information needed to form ordered structures such as nanotubes, spheres and fibrils3-8. A large variety of these peptides is commercially available.
This paper presents a procedure that leads to the formation of ordered structures by the self-assembly of homoaromatic peptides. The protocol requires only commercial reagents and basic laboratory equipment. In addition, the paper describes some of the methods available for the characterization of peptide-based assemblies. These methods include electron and atomic force microscopy and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). Moreover, the manuscript demonstrates the blending of peptides (coassembly) and the formation of a &#34;beads on a string&#34;-like structure by this process.9 The protocols presented here can be adapted to other classes of peptides or biological building blocks and can potentially lead to the discovery of new peptide-based structures and to better control of their assembly.

This paper describes the formation of highly ordered peptide-based structures by the spontaneous process of self-assembly. The method utilizes commercially available peptides and common lab equipment. This technique can be applied to a large variety of peptides and may lead to the discovery of new peptide-based assemblies.

In nature, complex functional structures are formed by the self-assembly of biomolecules under mild conditions. Understanding the forces that control ...

Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures

The behavior of confined colloidal suspensions with attractive interparticle interactions is critical to the rational design of materials for directed assembly1-3, drug delivery4, improved hydrocarbon recovery5-7, and flowable electrodes for energy storage8. Suspensions containing fluorescent colloids and non-adsorbing polymers are appealing model systems, as the ratio of the polymer radius of gyration to the particle radius&#160;and concentration of polymer control the range and strength of the interparticle attraction, respectively. By tuning the polymer properties and the volume fraction of the colloids, colloid fluids, fluids of clusters, gels, crystals, and glasses can be obtained9.&#160;Confocal microscopy, a variant of fluorescence microscopy, allows an optically transparent and fluorescent sample to be imaged with high spatial and temporal resolution in three dimensions. In this technique, a small pinhole or slit blocks the emitted fluorescent light from regions of the sample that are outside the focal volume of the microscope optical system. As a result, only a thin section of the sample in the focal plane is imaged. This technique is particularly well suited to probe the structure and dynamics in dense colloidal suspensions at the single-particle scale: the particles are large enough to be resolved using visible light and diffuse slowly enough to be captured at typical scan speeds of commercial confocal systems10. Improvements in scan speeds and analysis algorithms have also enabled quantitative confocal imaging of flowing suspensions11-16,37.&#160;In this paper, we demonstrate confocal microscopy experiments to probe the confined phase behavior and flow properties of colloid-polymer mixtures. We first prepare colloid-polymer mixtures that are density- and refractive-index matched. Next, we report a standard protocol for imaging quiescent dense colloid-polymer mixtures under varying confinement in thin wedge-shaped cells. Finally, we demonstrate a protocol for imaging colloid-polymer mixtures during microchannel flow.

Confocal microscopy is used to image quiescent and flowing colloid-polymer mixtures, which are studied as model systems for attractive suspensions. Image analysis algorithms are used to calculate structural and dynamic metrics for the colloidal particles that measure changes due to geometric confinement.

The behavior of confined colloidal suspensions with attractive interparticle interactions is critical to the rational design of materials for directed ...

Preparation of Mica and Silicon Substrates for DNA Origami Analysis and Experimentation

The designed nature and controlled, one-pot synthesis of DNA origami provides exciting opportunities in many fields, particularly nanoelectronics. Many of these applications require interaction with and adhesion of DNA nanostructures to a substrate. Due to its atomically flat and easily cleaned nature, mica has been the substrate of choice for DNA origami experiments. However, the practical applications of mica are relatively limited compared to those of semiconductor substrates. For this reason, a straightforward, stable, and repeatable process for DNA origami adhesion on derivatized silicon oxide is presented here. To promote the adhesion of DNA nanostructures to silicon oxide surface, a self-assembled monolayer of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) is deposited from an aqueous solution that is compatible with many photoresists. The substrate must be cleaned of all organic and metal contaminants using Radio Corporation of America (RCA) cleaning processes and the native oxide layer must be etched to ensure a flat, functionalizable surface. Cleanrooms are equipped with facilities for silicon cleaning, however many components of DNA origami buffers and solutions are often not allowed in them due to contamination concerns. This manuscript describes the set-up and protocol for in-lab, small-scale silicon cleaning for researchers who do not have access to a cleanroom or would like to incorporate processes that could cause contamination of a cleanroom CMOS clean bench. Additionally, variables for regulating coverage are discussed and how to recognize and avoid common sample preparation problems is described.

Reproducible cleaning processes for substrates used in DNA origami research are described, including bench-top RCA cleaning and derivatization of silicon oxide. Protocols for surface preparation, DNA origami deposition, drying parameters, and simple experimental set-ups are illustrated.

The designed nature and controlled, one-pot synthesis of DNA origami provides exciting opportunities in many fields, particularly nanoelectronics. Many of ...

Deacetylation Assays to Unravel the Interplay between Sirtuins (SIRT2) and Specific Protein-substrates

Acetylation has emerged as an important post-translational modification (PTM) regulating a plethora of cellular processes and functions. This is further supported by recent findings in high-resolution mass spectrometry based proteomics showing that many new proteins and sites within these proteins can be acetylated. However the identity of the enzymes regulating these proteins and sites is often unknown. Among these enzymes, sirtuins, which belong to the class III histone lysine deacetylases, have attracted great interest as enzymes regulating the acetylome under different physiological or pathophysiological conditions. Here we describe methods to link SIRT2, the cytoplasmic sirtuin, with its substrates including both in vitro and in vivo deacetylation assays. These assays can be applied in studies focused on other members of the sirtuin family to unravel the specific role of sirtuins and are necessary in order to establish the regulatory interplay of specific deacetylases with their substrates as a first step to better understand the role of protein acetylation. Furthermore, such assays can be used to distinguish functional acetylation sites on a protein from what may be non-regulatory acetylated lysines, as well as to examine the interplay between a deacetylase and its substrate in a physiological context.

Deacetylation Assays to Unravel the Interplay between Sirtuins SIRT2 and Specific Protein-substrates

This protocol describes the required steps to execute in vitro and in vivo deacetylation assays in order to establish the role of proteins as specific deacetylation substrates for sirtuins and further study the role of reversible - lysine acetylation as a post-translational modification.

Acetylation has emerged as an important post-translational modification (PTM) regulating a plethora of cellular processes and functions. This is further ...

A Method to Manipulate Surface Tension of a Liquid Metal via Surface Oxidation and Reduction

Controlling interfacial tension is an effective method for manipulating the shape, position, and flow of fluids at sub-millimeter length scales, where interfacial tension is a dominant force. A variety of methods exist for controlling the interfacial tension of aqueous and organic liquids on this scale; however, these techniques have limited utility for liquid metals due to their large interfacial tension.
Liquid metals can form soft, stretchable, and shape-reconfigurable components in electronic and electromagnetic devices. Although it is possible to manipulate these fluids via mechanical methods (e.g., pumping), electrical methods are easier to miniaturize, control, and implement. However, most electrical techniques have their own constraints: electrowetting-on-dielectric requires large (kV) potentials for modest actuation, electrocapillarity can affect relatively small changes in the interfacial tension, and continuous electrowetting is limited to plugs of the liquid metal in capillaries.
Here, we present a method for actuating gallium and gallium-based liquid metal alloys via an electrochemical surface reaction. Controlling the electrochemical potential on the surface of the liquid metal in electrolyte rapidly and reversibly changes the interfacial tension by over two orders of magnitude ( &#820;500 mN/m to near zero). Furthermore, this method requires only a very modest potential (&#60; 1 V) applied relative to a counter electrode. The resulting change in tension is due primarily to the electrochemical deposition of a surface oxide layer, which acts as a surfactant; removal of the oxide increases the interfacial tension, and vice versa. This technique can be applied in a wide variety of electrolytes and is independent of the substrate on which it rests.

We present a method to control the interfacial energy of a liquid metal in an electrolyte via electrochemical deposition (or removal) of a surface oxide layer. This simple method can control the capillary behavior of gallium-based liquid metals by tuning the interfacial energy rapidly, significantly, and reversibly using modest voltages.

Controlling interfacial tension is an effective method for manipulating the shape, position, and flow of fluids at sub-millimeter length scales, where ...

Coulomb Explosion Imaging as a Tool to Distinguish Between Stereoisomers

This article shows how the COLTRIMS (Cold Target Recoil Ion Momentum Spectroscopy) or the "reaction microscope" technique can be used to distinguish between enantiomers (stereoisomers) of simple chiral species on the level of individual molecules. In this approach, a gaseous molecular jet of the sample expands into a vacuum chamber and intersects with femtosecond (fs) laser pulses. The high intensity of the pulses leads to fast multiple ionization, igniting a so-called Coulomb Explosion that produces several cationic (positively charged) fragments. An electrostatic field guides these cations onto time- and position-sensitive detectors. Similar to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer, the arrival time of each ion yields information on its mass. As a surplus, the electrostatic field is adjusted in a way that the emission direction and the kinetic energy after fragmentation lead to variations in the time-of-flight and in the impact position on the detector.
Each ion impact creates an electronic signal in the detector; this signal is treated by high-frequency electronics and recorded event by event by a computer. The registered data correspond to the impact times and positions. With these data, the energy and the emission direction of each fragment can be calculated. These values are related to structural properties of the molecule under investigation, i.e. to the bond lengths and relative positions of the atoms, allowing to determine molecule by molecule the handedness of simple chiral species and other isomeric features.

For small chiral species, Coulomb Explosion Imaging provides a new approach to determine the handedness of individual molecules.

This article shows how the COLTRIMS (Cold Target Recoil Ion Momentum Spectroscopy) or the "reaction microscope" technique can be used to distinguish ...

DNA-magnetic Particle Binding Analysis by Dynamic and Electrophoretic Light Scattering

Isolation of DNA using magnetic particles is a field of high importance in biotechnology and molecular biology research. This protocol describes the evaluation of DNA-magnetic particles binding via dynamic light scattering (DLS) and electrophoretic light scattering (ELS). Analysis by DLS provides valuable information on the physicochemical properties of particles including particle size, polydispersity, and zeta potential. The latter describes the surface charge of the particle which plays major role in electrostatic binding of materials such as DNA. Here, a comparative analysis exploits three chemical modifications of nanoparticles and microparticles and their effects on DNA binding and elution. Chemical modifications by branched polyethylenimine, tetraethyl orthosilicate and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane are investigated. Since DNA exhibits a negative charge, it is expected that zeta potential of particle surface will decrease upon binding of DNA. Forming of clusters should also affect particle size. In order to investigate the efficiency of these particles in isolation and elution of DNA, the particles are mixed with DNA in low pH (~6), high ionic strength and dehydration environment. Particles are washed on magnet and then DNA is eluted by Tris-HCl buffer (pH = 8). DNA copy number is estimated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Zeta potential, particle size, polydispersity and quantitative PCR data are evaluated and compared. DLS is an insightful and supporting method of analysis that adds a new perspective to the process of screening of particles for DNA isolation.

This protocol describes the synthesis of magnetic particles and evaluation of their DNA-binding properties via dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering. This method focuses on monitoring changes in particle size, their polydispersity and zeta potential of particle surface which play major role in binding of materials such as DNA.

Isolation of DNA using magnetic particles is a field of high importance in biotechnology and molecular biology research. This protocol describes the ...

Rapid Nanoprobe Signal Enhancement by In Situ Gold Nanoparticle Synthesis

The use of nanoprobes such as gold, silver, silica or iron-oxide nanoparticles as detection reagents in bioanalytical assays can enable high sensitivity and convenient colorimetric readout. However, high densities of nanoparticles are typically needed for detection. The available synthesis-based enhancement protocols are either limited to gold and silver nanoparticles or rely on precise enzymatic control and optimization. Here, we present a protocol to enhance the colorimetric readout of gold, silver, silica, and iron oxide nanoprobes. It was observed that the colorimetric signal can be improved by up to a 10000-fold factor. The basis for such signal enhancement strategies is the chemical reduction of Au3+ to Au0. There are several chemical reactions that enable the reduction of Au3+ to Au0. In the protocol, Good&#39;s buffers and H2O2 are used and it is possible to favor the deposition of Au0 onto the surface of existing nanoprobes, in detriment of the formation of new gold nanoparticles. The protocol consists of the incubation of the microarray with a solution consisting of chloroauric acid and H2O2 in 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid pH 6 buffer following the nanoprobe-based detection assay. The enhancement solution can be applied to paper and glass-based sensors. Moreover, it can be used in commercially available immunoassays as demonstrated by the application of the method to a commercial allergen microarray. The signal development requires less than 5 min of incubation with the enhancement solution and the readout can be assessed by naked eye or low-end image acquisition devices such as a table-top scanner or a digital camera.

Rapid Nanoprobe Signal Enhancement by In Situ Gold Nanoparticle Synthesis

In this work, a protocol for signal enhancement of nanoprobe-based biosensing is presented. The protocol is based on the reduction of chloroauric acid onto the surface of existing nanoprobes that consist of gold, silver, silica or iron-oxide nanoparticles.

The use of nanoprobes such as gold, silver, silica or iron-oxide nanoparticles as detection reagents in bioanalytical assays can enable high sensitivity ...

Solvothermal Synthesis of MIL-96 and UiO-66-NH2 on Atomic Layer Deposited Metal Oxide Coatings on Fiber Mats

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which contain reactive metal clusters and organic ligands allowing for large porosities and surface areas, have proven effective in gas adsorption, separations, and catalysis. MOFs are most commonly synthesized as bulk powder, requiring additional processes to adhere them to functional devices and fabrics that risk decreasing the powder porosity and adsorption capacity. Here, we demonstrate a method of first coating fabrics with metal oxide films using atomic layer deposition (ALD). This process creates conformal films of controllable thickness on each fiber, while providing a more reactive surface for MOF nucleation. By submerging the ALD coated fabric in solution during solvothermal MOF synthesis, the MOFs create a conformal, well-adhered coating on the fibers, resulting in a MOF-functionalized fabric, without additional adhesion materials that may block MOF pores and functional sites. Here we demonstrate two solvothermal synthesis methods. First, we form a MIL-96(Al) layer on polypropylene fibers using synthetic conditions that convert the metal oxide to MOF. Using initial inorganic films of varying thicknesses, diffusion of the organic linker into the inorganic allows us to control the extent of MOF loading on the fabric. Second, we perform a solvothermal synthesis of UiO-66-NH2 in which the MOF nucleates on the conformal metal oxide coating on polyamide-6 (PA-6) fibers, thereby producing a uniform and conformal thin film of MOF on the fabric. The resulting materials can be directly incorporated into filter devices or protective clothing and eliminate the maladroit qualities of loose powder.

Solvothermal Synthesis of MIL-96 and UiO-66-NH2 on Atomic Layer Deposited Metal Oxide Coatings on Fiber Mats

Metal-organic frameworks are effective in gas storage and heterogeneous catalysis, but typical synthesis methods result in loose powders that are difficult to incorporate into smart materials. We demonstrate a method of first coating fabrics with ALD metal oxides, resulting in conformal films of MOF on the fabrics during solvothermal synthesis.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which contain reactive metal clusters and organic ligands allowing for large porosities and surface areas, have proven ...