DEPC Vs DMPC

[Paul Cullen]

I have been using DMPC to rid my solutions of RNases. I prepare a 1%
DMPC solution in 50% ethanol and add this to my solutions to give a
final concentration of 0.1% DMPC. I presume DMPC is made up in an
ethanolic solution because it is quite insoluble. I've noticed that the
volume taken up by ethanol evaporates during autoclaving. To compensate
for the volume lost I add extra water to the solutions. I've read that
DEPC can react with ammonia to form urethane which is a suspected
carcinogen, that is why I selected DMPC in the first place. Having never
used DEPC I would like to know how to make up DEPC solutions (i.e. do
you need to dissolve in an ethanolic solution) and I would also like to
see a comparison of the merits of DMPC vs DEPC.



-- 
Paul Cullen
Bacterial Pathogenesis Research Group
Monash University
Australia