I am getting DNA contamination after mRNA isolation using Dynabeads magnetic beads. Why is this?
There are several reasons why DNA contamination may occur:
- Incomplete DNA shearing.
- Incomplete removal of sample lysate after the hybridization step.
- Insufficient washing and/or removal of wash buffers.
- The ratio of sample to beads was too high.
My Dynabeads magnetic beads are not pelleting well with the magnet. Do you have any suggestions for me?
Please review the following possibilities for why your Dynabeads magnetic beads are not pelleting:
- The solution is too viscous.
- The beads have formed aggregates because of protein-protein interaction.
Try these suggestions:
- Increase separation time (leave tub on magnet for 2-5 minutes)
- Add DNase I to the lysate (~0.01 mg/mL)
- Increase the Tween 20 concentration to ~0.05% of the binding and/or washing buffer.
- Add up to 20 mM beta-merecaptoethanol to the binding and/or wash buffers.
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Dynabeads Nucleic Acid Purification Support Center.
Can I use Dynabeads magnetic beads to isolate single-stranded DNA templates?
Yes, Dynabeads magnetic beads can be used to isolate single-stranded DNA. Streptavidin Dynabeads magnetic beads can be used to target biotinylated DNA fragments, followed by denaturation of the double-stranded DNA and removal of the non-biotinylated strand. The streptavidin-coupled Dynabeads magnetic beads will not inhibit any enzymatic activity. This enables further handling and manipulation of the bead-bound DNA directly on the solid phase. Please see the following link (https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/dna-rna-purification-analysis/napamisc/capture-of-biotinylated-targets/preparing-single-stranded-dna-templates.html) for more information in regards to single-stranded DNA capture.
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Dynabeads Nucleic Acid Purification Support Center.
What is the magnetic susceptibility for Dynabeads magnetic beads?
Magnetic susceptibility is a measure of how quickly the beads will migrate to the magnet. This will depend on the iron content and the character of the iron oxide. The magnetic susceptibility given for the Dynabeads magnetic beads is the mass susceptibility, given either as cgs units/g or m^3/kg (the latter being an SI unit). For ferri- and ferromagnetic substances, the magnetic mass susceptibility is dependent upon the magnetic field strength (H), as the magnetization of such substances is not a linear function of H but approaches a saturation value with increasing field. For that reason, the magnetic mass susceptibility of the Dynabeads magnetic beads is determined by a standardized procedure under fixed conditions. The magnetic mass susceptibility given in our catalog is thus the SI unit. Conversion from Gaussian (cgs, emu) units into SI units for magnetic mass susceptibility is achieved by multiplying the Gaussian factor (emu/g or cgs/g) by 4 pi x 10^-3. The resulting unit is also called the rationalized magnetic mass susceptibility, which should be distinguished from the (SI) dimensionless magnetic susceptibility unit. In general, magnetic mass susceptibility is a measure of the force (Fz) influencing an object positioned in a nonhomogenous magnetic field. The magnetic mass susceptibility of the Dynabeads magnetic beads is measured by weighing a sample, and then subjecting the sample to a magnetic field of known strength. The weight (F1) is then measured, and compared to the weight of the sample when the magnetic field is turned off (F0). The susceptibility is then calculated as K x 10^-3 = [(F1-F0) x m x 0.335 x 10^6], where K is the mass susceptibility of the sample of mass m. The susceptibility is then converted to SI units.
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Dynabeads Nucleic Acid Purification Support Center.