Arabidopsis gDNA isolation

This is a simple and fast protocol for the extraction of genomic DNA from Arabidopsis thaliana that works fine in PCR for simple amplicons. We only use this with (rosette) leaves but it is likely that it could be used for other tissues as well.

Procedure

• Close the lid of a tube onto a leaf or part of a leaf.
• Add 400 µL extraction buffer (see below).
• Grind with micropestle until well smashed.
• Centrifuge 5 min at room temperature and maximum rpm in a standard table top centrifuge.
• Transfer 300 µL of the supernatant to a new tube.
• Add 300 µL propane-2-ol and centrifuge as before. Discard supernatant.
• Wash pellet with 70% ethanol by adding 1 mL and centrifuging again (5 min should be enough). Remove ethanol and let dry at room temperature (or, if you really are in a hurry, dry in a speedvac).
• Dissolve in 100 µL water or Tris buffer
• Use 0.5-1.0 for PCR.

Material

• Standard reaction tubes, pipets, table top centrifuge etc
• Extraction buffer:
  • 10 mL Tris-Cl (1 M, pH 7.5) (=200 mM)
  • 2.5 mL NaCl (5 M) (=250 mM)
  • 2.5 mL EDTA (0.5 M) (=25 mM)
  • 2.5 mL SDS (10 %) (=0.5 %)
  • ad 50 mL (32.5 mL) H₂O_dd (store at room temperature)
• Propane-2-ol
• 70 % ethanol