Isolation of nucleic acid

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of isolating nucleic acid from a sample, said method comprising contacting said sample with a detergent and a solid support, whereby soluble nucleic acid in said sample is bound to the support, and separating said support with bound nucleic acid from the sample. Where the method of the invention is used to isolate DNA, it may conveniently be couple with a further step to isolate RNA from the same sample.

1 .- 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method of isolating nucleic acid from a sample comprising:
 contacting a sample comprising soluble nucleic acid with a detergent and a particulate solid support, whereby the soluble nucleic acid in the sample binds to the surface of the solid support, thereby forming a particulate solid support with bound nucleic acid; and   separating the particulate solid support with bound nucleic acid from the sample.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the soluble nucleic acid binds to the surface of the solid support in the absence of a chaotropic agent. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the soluble nucleic acid binds to the surface of the solid support in a sequence-independent manner. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the nucleic acid is DNA. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the nucleic acid is RNA. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the detergent is anionic. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the detergent is an alkali metal alkylsulphate salt. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the detergent is sodium dodecyl sulphate or sarkosyl. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the concentration of detergent is 0.2 to 30% (w/v). 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the detergent is contained in a composition additionally comprising one or more monovalent cations, chelating agents or reducing agents. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the detergent is used in alkaline solution. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the particulate solid support comprises polymeric beads. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the particulate solid support comprises non-magnetic particles. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the particulate solid support comprises magnetic beads. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the particulate solid support has a hydrophobic surface. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising disrupting structural components in the sample or to achieve lysis of cells in the sample. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the nucleic acid is eluted from the support, following separation from the sample. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the nucleic acid binds non-covalently to the surface of the solid support. 
     
     
         48 . A method of isolating nucleic acid from a sample comprising:
 contacting a sample comprising soluble nucleic acid with a detergent and a particulate solid support in the absence of a chaotropic agent, whereby the soluble nucleic acid in the sample binds to the surface of the solid support in a sequence-independent manner, thereby forming a particulate solid support with bound nucleic acid; and   separating the particulate solid support with bound nucleic acid from the sample.   
     
     
         49 . A composition, comprising:
 a particulate solid support;   nucleic acid, wherein the nucleic acid is bound to the surface of the solid support in a sequence-independent manner; and   a detergent, wherein the composition does not comprise a chaotropic agent.   
     
     
         50 . The composition of  claim 49 , wherein the nucleic acid is non-covalently bound to the surface of the solid support.