Purification of RNA Using TRIzol (TRI Reagent)

TRIzol solubilization and extraction is a relatively recently developed general method for deproteinizing RNA. This method is particularly advantageous in situations where cells or tissues are enriched for endogenous RNases or when separation of cytoplasmic RNA from nuclear RNA is impractical. TRIzol (or TRI Reagent) is a monophasic solution of phenol and guanidinium isothiocyanate that simultaneously solubilizes biological material and denatures protein. After solubilization, the addition of chloroform causes phase separation (much like extraction with phenol:chloroform:isoamyl alcohol), where protein is extracted to the organic phase, DNA resolves at the interface, and RNA remains in the aqueous phase.…