RNAprotect Tissue Reagent (50 ml)

Developed by QIAGEN, RNAprotect Tissue Reagent provides immediate stabilization of RNA in animal tissues. The reagent inactivates RNases on contact and preserves the RNA expression pattern during harvest and storage, enabling reproducible purification of high-quality RNA. Samples are stabilized at room temperature prior to RNA isolation procedures, and tissue samples should be submerged in the reagent immediately after harvesting.

The reagent quickly permeates tissues for immediate RNA stabilization. For reliable protection of RNA even in the inner portions of solid tissues, incubation for at least 45 minutes in the reagent is recommended prior to RNA isolation using RNeasy Kits. Samples must be cut into slices less than 0.5 cm thick; RNA degradation will otherwise occur in slices that are too thick. The reagent is intended for stabilization of fresh tissue and is not recommended for flash-frozen samples.

Stabilized tissues can be stored at 37 °C for up to 1 day, at 18–25 °C for up to 7 days, or at 2–8 °C for up to 4 weeks, and can be archived at –30 to –15 °C or –90 to –65 °C. For archival freezer storage, samples should first be incubated overnight in the reagent at 2–8 °C. Samples can be archived without risk of RNA degradation, even after multiple freeze–thaw cycles. RNA purified from RNAprotect-stabilized tissues is suitable for downstream applications such as northern blotting and RT-PCR.