Purity and biological activity
Nucleic acids prepared on QIAGEN resin are of equivalent or superior purity to nucleic acids prepared by two rounds of purification on CsCl gradients. DNA prepared using QIAGEN-tips has been tested with restriction endonucleases, polymerases (including
Taq DNA polymerase), DNA ligases, phosphatases, and kinases. Subsequent procedures such as transfection, transformation, sequencing, cloning, and in vitro transcription and translation proceed with optimal efficiency.
Capacity and recovery
The names of the different QIAGEN-tips indicate the binding capacities (in µg) of the columns for double-stranded plasmid DNA, as determined with purified pUC18 DNA. QIAGEN-tip 100, for example, has a binding capacity of 100 µg of plasmid DNA. QIAGEN resin has different binding capacities for different classes of nucleic acids. The capacity of QIAGEN resin for RNA, for example, is twice that for plasmid DNA. Conversely, large nucleic acids, such as lambda, cosmids, and genomic DNA, are bound at a slightly lower capacity than plasmid DNA. This relationship between the binding capacity of the QIAGEN resin and the size of the nucleic acids being prepared must be taken into account when calculating expected yields.
Stability
QIAGEN resin is stable for up to six hours after equilibration. Beyond this time, the separation characteristics of the resin will begin to change, and it will no longer be effective. QIAGEN-tips may be reused within six hours for the same sample by re-equilibrating the resin with Buffer QBT after the first elution. QIAGEN resin will not function in the presence of anionic detergents such as SDS, or at a pH less than 4.0.
Buffers
The binding, washing, and elution conditions for QIAGEN resin are strongly influenced by pH. This
figure shows the influence of pH on the salt concentration required for elution of various types of nucleic acids. Deviations from the appropriate pH values of the buffers at a given salt concentration may result in losses of the desired nucleic acid. Buffers, such as MOPS, sodium phosphate, Tris•Cl and sodium acetate can be used at the indicated pH. MOPS (3-[N-morpholino]propanesulfonic acid, pKa 7.2) is frequently the buffer of choice in QIAGEN protocols, since it has a higher buffering capacity at pH 7.0 than sodium phosphate, Tris•Cl or sodium acetate buffers. SDS and other anionic detergents interfere with the binding of nucleic acids to QIAGEN resin by competing for binding to the anion-exchange groups. If SDS is used during sample preparation, it must be removed through steps such as potassium acetate precipitation or alcohol precipitation prior to column application. SDS removal steps are incorporated into the QIAGEN protocols.