Bickler S W, Heinrich M C, Bagby G C
Department of Surgery, Oregon Health Sciences Univ., Portland.
Biotechniques. 1992 Jul;13(1):64-6.
DNase I can be used to remove contaminating DNA from RNA samples. Heat treatment has been recommended as a method to inactivate DNase I enzymatic activity, thereby allowing subsequent reverse transcription and PCR amplification of DNase I treated RNA. We have found that inactivation of DNase I by heat treatment is strongly dependent on Mg2+ concentration. In addition, deoxyribonucleolytic activity of "inactivated" enzyme may be restored by changes in Mg2+ concentration following heat treatment. Caution should be exercised when using heat treatment alone as a method of DNase I inactivation.
