Purification of RNA from animal cells using diethyl-pyrocarbonate

Summary Extraction of RNA from animal cells by a method using diethyl-pyrocarbonate yielded 50–60% of the total RNA. RNA purified by a hot phenol-SDS method from adenovirus 2 infected cells showed about 9% homology with adenovirus DNA, and RNA purified by diethyl-pyrocarbonate-SDS showed over 7% hybridization. Profiles of RNA prepared by both methods were identical when studied by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.Acknowledgment. This investigation was supported by U.S. Public Health Services research grant No. 5R01-CA10724-03 from the National Cancer Institute.