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E-Gel
™
Power Snap Electrophoresis System User Guide
Appendix E
Running RNA Samples on E-Gel
™
EX Agarose Gels
E-Gel
™
EX Agarose Gels can be used to run RNA samples. RNA can be run under denaturing or non-denaturing
conditions. Use non-denaturing conditions only when checking for RNA quality, where accurately determining size
is not critical.
Important
: Using other denaturing agents like Glyoxal, Formaldehyde, or Urea results in very poor separation and
band morphology on E-Gel
™
EX.
It is not recommended to run samples that were loaded with RNA loading buffer on the same gel as samples that are
loaded with water.
Non-
denaturing
conditions
•
Mix RNA sample with RNase-free water such that the final volume is 20 μL.
•
Do not heat. Load the entire sample onto the E-Gel
™
EX.
•
Run RNA using the E-Gel
™
EX 1−2% program for 10 minutes.
Denaturing
agents
The only denaturing agent that is compatible with the E-Gel
™
EX system is Formamide, 50–95%.
Lower concentrations are also acceptable.
Denaturing
conditions
There are two methods for denaturing your RNA sample to run on an E-Gel
™
EX Agarose Gel.
Method 1
1.
Mix RNA (250 ng–2 μg) sample with formamide (to 50–95%) such that the final volume is 20 μL.
2.
Heat samples at 65°C for 5 minutes to denature RNA.
3.
Place samples on ice immediately after heating.
4.
Load entire sample onto E-Gel
™
EX.
5.
Run RNA using the E-Gel
™
EX 1−2% program for 10 minutes.
Method 2
1.
Mix RNA (250 ng–2 μg) sample with RNAse-free water or loading buffer such that the final
volume is 20 μL.
2.
Heat samples at 65°C for 5 minutes to denature RNA