Know the options for isolating small RNAs

Enhanced categorization of the transcriptome brings experimenters one-step closer to comprehending the ruling of disease states. An immense deal of focus is put on ribonucleic acids and their interaction with other molecules. The term RNA includes an extensive assortment of molecular sizes, ranging from superior messenger and ribosomal ribonucleic acids to micro and small nucleotide ribonucleic acids, known as miRNAs and snRNAs respectively.

The growing interest in understanding the authoritarian roles of non-coding small RNAs has encouraged the need for superior tools during the process of small RNA extract and small RNA isolation for research studies. Although the kits that are designed for these processes do not differ in the types of small RNAs, the different offerings offer diverse levels of RNA isolation and enhancement.

Nowadays, many companies are offering kits for total RNA isolation and many of them provide kits specifically for Small RNA isolation, as well. These kits are commonly known as miRNA kits, although they may contain other categories of small RNAs, as well. Even though the use of spin columns is considered convenient for extracting and isolating process is quite common amid many users, these kits are available in magnetic-bead and multiwell plate formats, as well.  They are also capable of giving higher throughputs.

Similar to other types of DNA/RNA isolation kits, there are options of size in terms of input quantity, with such names as mini or micro kits. These kits include:

·         MirVana miRNA Isolation Kits

·         miRNeasy kits

·         mirPremierTM microRNA Isolation Kits

·         miRNA Purification and Isolation Kits

·         High Pure miRNA Isolation Kits

·         Norgen Biotek's microRNA Purification Kits

Some manufacturers provide kits for meticulous sample types, such as tissues and cells, plasma or serum, and FFPE or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues.

The conventional approach for the RNA stems isolation from procedures that work well with the nucleic acid is phenol removal followed by isolation onto a silica filter and the ethanol precipitation. Phenol takes proteins away from the lysate and facilitates the withdrawal of all types of nucleic acids. Even though this is the most reliable method, some tool manufacturers are diverging from withdrawal with phenol and other natural solvents. This is for the reason that researchers do not like to use or discard dangerous chemicals. Some manufacturers offer small RNA isolation kits that do not contain organic solvents.

The micro spin column is a convenient tool for maneuvering small volumes of affinity supports, usually between 5 µL and 100 µL, for protein purification. These columns enable you to purify more protein in less time.

Some of the beneficial features of these spin columns include:

·         They are perfect for an extremely small sample and resin volumes.

·         They come with a column volume of 400 µL.

·       They are available with different resin volumes, ranging from 5 to 100 µL

The micro spin column is being used in a variety of applications. In order to get the desired results, users have to add the affinity sample and resin to the spin column. Then, they can use a microcentrifuge to wash away impurities efficiently and elute their purified sample without foregoing any resin during the process.