26-Aug-2024 Embryo RNA Extractions

lab records
Author

Sarah Tanja

Published

August 26, 2024

Modified

September 1, 2025

1 Samples

  • 8C9F, 9C9F = 89C91

  • 7H14F, 8H14F, 9H14F = 789H14

  • 10M14F, 11M14F, 12M14F = 101112M14

  • 13H4F, 14H4F, 15H4F = 131416H4

  • 13L14F, 14L14F, 15L14F = 131415L14

  • 4C4F, 5C4F, 6C4F = 456C4

  • 1M14F, 3M14F = 13M14

  • 4H14F, 5H14F = 45H14

  • 7M4F, 8M4F, 9M4F = 789M4

1 7C9F used in Aug 12th test extraction

2 Summary

Note

Sample 789H14 extraction was ‘too low’ even for the High Sensitivity RNA Qubit Assay. I am considering shifting from Standard RNA-seq to ultra-low input RNA-seq… as the RNA quantity is ‘enough’ given the sample starting material, but consistently low.

3 Extraction Notes

This uses the Zymo Quick-DNA/RNA Miniprep Plus Kit and unless otherwise specified here, follows the M. Capitata Embryo DNA/RNA Extractions Protocol. All centrifugation ocurred at 14800rpm/16,162 xg.

  • Thaw samples to room temp

  • Transfer and pool samples to one Zymo BashingBead Tube

    • 13M14 had very small amount of starting material
  • Homogenize for 10 minutes

    • 10 min Zymo BashingBead Tube

      • The 4hpf samples are hardier and take a little longer to lyse than the other embryonic phases
  • Centrifuge for 1 min to get rid of bubbles

    • Check for complete lysis of embryos
    • Supernatent is clear!
  • Transfer 2 550uL aliquots of cleared supernatent to one new nuclease-free tube

  • Centrifuge for 1 min to pellet any beads

  • Split cleared supernatent into two aliquots of 530uL & transfer each aliquot to a new nuclease-free tube

  • Add 530uL of DNA/RNA Lysis Buffer to each tube ( a total of 1060uL volume in each tube )

  • Vortex to mix for 5 seconds

—> Proceed to purification

  • Sequentially transfer each sample in aliquots of 700uL into yellow Spin-Away Filter in a Collection Tube and centrifuge for 30s. SAVE THE FLOW THROUGH FOR RNA PURIFICATION by tipping flow through into spare collection tube (15mL Falcon Tube). This will take 3 passes.

  • Doubled volume of 100% (200 proof) ethanol to the RNA flow through in a falcon tube and vortexed to mix. End volume of flow through 2.1mL + ethanol 2.1mL = 4.2mL

  • Sequentially transfer RNA flow-through + ethanol in volumes =>700uL into the green Zymo Spin IIICG Column in a Collection Tube. This should take 6 ‘spins’

  • Saved 1st 2 spins (1400uL) for protein tube. Once collected place in -20 freezer.

  • Performed DNase I Treatment on green RNA spin column

    DB = 75*10
    print(DB)
    [1] 750
    Dnase = 5*10
    print(Dnase)
    [1] 50
    Note

    I didn’t invert to mix… I always lose some volume ‘beads’ in the lid when I do this. Instead I flicked the tube to mix it and kept all the volume down in the conical end of the tube. This worked well and I had a full 80uL of treatment per spin column to work with!

  • 400uL of Prep Buffer

  • 700uL of DNA/RNA Wash Buffer

  • 400uL of DNA/RNA Wash Buffer, 2min

  • Centrifuge 2min dry run

  • Warmed Zymo DNase-RNase Free Water to 55C in heat block before elution, and slowly dripped 50uL of water directly over filter.

4 End Products

eluted DNA volume: 50uL in Zymo DNase-RNase Free Water

eluted RNA volume: 50uL in warmed (55C) Zymo DNase-RNase Free Water

Important

I upped the elution volume from 30 to 50 for RNA because I wanted to make sure the nuclease-free water volume was enough to saturate the whole filter and get the RNA from it… The minimum volume in the kit instructions is 50uL… And I do have an RNA Clean & Concentrator kit that allows me to reduce that if needed. As long as total RNA is at least 100ng, we’re good. That means that qubit value (ng/uL) times the elution volume.

5 Qubit QAQC

Using the Invitrogen Thermo Fischer RNA High Sensitivity Assay Kit.

Prepared working solution for 6 samples and two standards (plus some extra) in a 5mL tube:

buffer <- 199*15
print(buffer)
[1] 2985
reagent <- 1*15
print(reagent)
[1] 15

5.0.1 RNA

standard 1: 92.47

standard 2: 1889.51

RunID: 2024-08-27_0540592

2 The Qubit date is ahead by 1 day (and I haven’t figured out how to set it straight yet)

sample_id qubit_rna_1 qubit_rna_2
  • 89C9
9.04 ng/uL 9.06 ng/uL
  • 789H14
too low too low
  • 101112M14
14.0 ng/uL 13.7 ng/uL
  • 131415H4
17.4 ng/uL 17.3 ng/uL
  • 131415L14
10.7 ng/uL 10.7 ng/uL
  • 456C4
11.1 ng/uL 11.2 ng/uL
  • 13M14
6.38 ng/uL 6.40 ng/uL
  • 45H14
8.14 ng/uL 8.10 ng/uL
  • 789M4
10.0 ng/uL 9.98 ng/uL

6 Storage Location

RNA samples are stored in -80C ‘JPG Lab Thermo’ freezer on shelf 1 (top shelf) in coral-embryo-leachate RNA wax freezer boxes with green label tape.

DNA samples (not quantified) are stored in -20C in JPG Lab FSH 236 in shelf 2 in coral-embryo-leachate DNA wax freezer box with yellow label tape.

Protein flow-through (not quantified) are stored in -20C in JPG Lab FSH 236 in shelf 2 in coral-embryo-leachate PROTEIN wax freezer box with blue label tape.