title: Recovery of biologically functional messenger RNA from agarose gels by passive elution.
abstract: A general method for isolating biologically active messenger RNA (mRNA) from agarose gels is reported. Purified cellular RNA is resolved by preparative agarose gel electrophoresis and recovered in high yields (80%) by passive diffusion. Polyadenylated mRNA isolated from the eluted RNA is functionally intact based on the ability of the RNA to serve as a template in cell-free translation systems and complementary DNA synthesis reactions. The entire procedure is simple and rapid. A substantial purification of the mRNAs coding for skeletal muscle myosin heavy chain, light chain subunits and carbonic anhydrase III has been achieved employing this method.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009218:Myosins / Q000032:analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D009218:Myosins