title: A fully automatable enzymatic method for DNA extraction from plant tissues.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  DNA extraction from plant tissues, unlike DNA isolation from mammalian tissues, remains difficult due to the presence of a rigid cell wall around the plant cells. Currently used methods inevitably require a laborious mechanical grinding step, necessary to disrupt the cell wall for the release of DNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using a cocktail of different carbohydrases, a method was developed that enables a complete digestion of the plant cell walls and subsequent DNA release. Optimized conditions for the digestion reaction minimize DNA shearing and digestion, and maximize DNA release from the plant cell. The method gave good results in 125 of the 156 tested species.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In combination with conventional DNA isolation techniques, the new enzymatic method allows to obtain high-yield, high-molecular weight DNA, which can be used for many applications, including genome characterization by AFLP, RAPD and SSR. Automation of the protocol (from leaf disks to DNA) is possible with existing workstations.
authors.affiliation: University of Geneva, Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques de la Ville de Genève, Impératrice 1, CH-1292 Chambésy/Genève, Switzerland. manen@cjb.ville-ge.ch
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Manen
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sinitsyna
authors.forename: Lorène
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aeschbach
authors.forename: Alexander V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Markov
authors.forename: Arkady
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sinitsyn
mesh_terms: D001901:Botany / Q000379:methods; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics; D014242:Trichoderma / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D018744:DNA, Plant