Sonication....

[Ned Mantei]

In article <3772D015.901F1C38 at home.net>, jqpublic at home.net wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> Anyone know of an online "Sonication Primer" to get me up to speed?
> Specifically what I'm trying to learn is:
> 
> 1. What are typical power settings(in watts, not %) and some typical
> protocols for E. coli lysis.

The maximum for your sonicator tip. r.t.f.m.

> 2. 
don't know.

> 3. Effective(and quick) ways to determine the extent of cell lysis.

Judging by eye: The suspension starts out looking opalescent or "shiny",
sort of like melted ice cream. After successful sonication it looks like
dirty dishwater.
More quantitative test: Take a bit of the starting material and centrifuge
30--60 seconds in a microcentrifuge. Take samples after sonication and
similarly centrifuge. The pellet should be much smaller, almost gone,
after successful sonication.

-- 
Ned Mantei
Dept. of Cell Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland