DIFFERENTIAL EXTRACTION OF NUCLEAR AND CYTOPLASMIC RNA FROM INTACT LYMPHOCYTES

RNA was extracted differentially from whole lymphocytes with phenol by varying the temperature of extraction and the presence of detergent. 1. 1. Whole-cell RNA is extracted at 62° with 0.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate. 2. 2. Cytoplasmic rRNA and 4-S RNA are extracted by phenol at room temperature without sodium dodecyl sulfate. All nuclear RNA forms are excluded. 3. 3. Nuclear and cytoplasmic rRNA and its precursors are extracted by phenol at 40° with sodium dodecyl sulfate, but extraction of polydisperse RNA is reduced, providing improved detection and resolution of rRNA precursors on sucrose gradients. 4. 4. Cytoplasmic polydisperse RNA, if it exists in lymphocytes, is not extracted by cold phenol without detergents. © 1969.