BioPulverizer Tubes
Protocol
Revision No. 6570-999-7D01W

The BioPulverizer Tubes consist of special 2 ml screwcap tubes that contain a Lysing Matrix and are ideally suited for cell disruption/homogenization in tube-shaking instruments such as a vortexer or the FastPrep Instrument (see page 70). Samples can be rapidly processed without any preliminary preparation. The FastPrep Instrument agitates the tubes up and down with a slight twisting motion at extremely high speed enabling near instantaneous homogenization of sample and stabilization of DNA, RNA, and proteins. The instrument can process 12 tubes simultaneously. Sample cross-contamination with the BioPulverizer Tubes is completely eliminated because each sample is in a self-contained environment.

1. To a BioPulverizer Tube:
   Add appropriate homogenization reagents. Add 10 to 100 mg of tissue or cell sample.




When working with cells, centrifuge to pellet and resuspend cell pellets in 100 µl of water or isotonic saline to give a maximum suspension volume of 200 µl and add to tube.




2. Place tube in a cell disruption device and process for 2 to 15 minutes in a vortex machine or 30 seconds at a speed rating of 5.0 in a FastPrep Instrument.




Important:The volumes are calculated to leave an air space of approximately 0.5 cc. If less air space is present, due to the extreme forces exerted, there is a likelihood of sample loss resulting from tube failure or deformation around the cap allowing sample to escape.






Additional time (up to 1 minute) may be required for tough tissues (mouse tail or bone) when using a FastPrep Instrument. Intermittent chilling on ice of samples that requires consecutive runs is suggested.




3. Continue with appropriate protocol.