FastRNA®, Optimization Kit
Maximize Total RNA Yield

Each source, such as the great variety of plants and their different tissues, soil organisms, marine specimens, etc., may require slightly different conditions for optimal isolation and purification of RNA. While the FastRNA GREEN, BLUE and RED kits are suitable for most needs, the FastRNA Optimization Kit is designed to allow the user to custom-tailor the isolation procedure to a particular specimen, maximizing both the quantity and quality of RNA. Each Optimization Kit contains 25 different chaotropic RNA stabilizing reagents (CRSR), sufficient for 50 preps (2 preps/CRSR) using 10⁹ bacteria, 50 mg. of yeast cells, 20-200 mg plant or animal tissue or 10⁷ tissue culture cells.

The FastRNA Optimization Kit is used in conjunction with any of the FastRNA Kits. The protocol is similar to that for the BLUE, RED, and GREEN FastRNA kits, except for the use of different CRSRs:

1. The following reagents are first prepared from solutions present in the standard FastRNA Kits:

a) phenol acid reagent (PAR);

b) chloroform/isoamyl alcohol (CIA);

c) DEPC-treated isopropanol (DIPS);

d) salt/ethanol solution (SEWS);

2. PAR, CIA and individual CRSR reagents are added to a FastPrep Kit tube containing lysing matrix;
3. Add sample;
4. Process in FastPrep Instrument for 20-40 seconds;
5. Spin in a microcentrifuge to separate phases;
6. Add additional CIA, vortex to mix, and centrifuge to separate phases;
7. Remove upper phase to a separate tube and add DIPS to precipitate RNA; centrifuge;
8. Wash pellet by resuspension in SEWS and centrifuge
9. Dissolve RNA pellet and examine RNA by gel electrophoresis.

FastRNA®,  Optimization Kit
Cat. No.	Description	Size/Vol.
6010-400	FastRNA Optimization Kit	50 Preps
6010-412 through 6010-437	Individual CRSR Reagents	2ml

FastRNA Optimization
	Total RNA isolated from mouse kidney tissue. The results, using 10 of the different CRSR Reagents in the FastRNA Optimization Kit, show that some reagents are significantly more efficient than others. The pattern will vary with RNA source.