RNase Zap (Invitrogen) and RNase Away (Molecular Bioproducts)

[Michael Sullivan]

On Feb 16, 2009, at 6:16 PM, DK wrote:

> In article <mailman.225.1234807625.13724.methods from net.bio.net>, Igor  
> Sagdeev <sagdeev from gmail.com> wrote:
>> Can anyone comment of the  difference(s) between these products:
>>
>> RNase Zap (Invitrogen)
>>
>> and
>>
>> RNase Away (Molecular Bioproducts)?
>
> Well,
>
> MSDS for both products makes it reasonably obvious that RNAse Away
> is simply a sodium hydroxide at unspecified concentration and RNase
> Zap is simply an SDS at unknown concentration.
>
> Take your pick. I'd contend that with already clean glassware that was
> not handled by bare hands neither is necessary. The "RNAses are so
> everywhere that the only way to get rid of them is to treat everything
> with some magic expensive solutions" is basically a myth.
>
> DK
> _______________________________________________
>

The more one works with RNA, the one more realizes that DK's point is  
true!

My favorite example of the extreme paranoia of RNases was a lab I  
knew of that baked the mortars and pestles they used to grind tissue  
for RNA preps! So there might be a little RNase on those: far more  
will be liberated when the tissue gets ground! They did go through a  
lot of mortars since these tended to break when cooling too fast out  
of the oven.

As for magic solutions, I personally use dilute bleach when I feel  
some treatment is called for. Ambion's web site even says this is an  
alternative to their solution.

Another hint is that usually there is no special need to treat water  
with DEPC. My experience is that 18 megaohm water from a milliQ  
system is essentially RNase free.

Mike
---
Michael L. Sullivan
Plant Research Molecular Geneticist
US Dairy Forage Research Center
ARS-USDA
1925 Linden Drive West
Madison, WI 53706
(608) 890-0046 (Phone)
(608) 890-0076 (FAX)