Quantitative and qualitative extraction of RNA from a filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis PCC 7937

Abstract

Cyanobacteria are rich in polysaccharides and also have a multilayered cell wall that interferes with the successful extraction of RNA. The methods available to extract RNA from cyanobacteria usually give low yield and poor quality of RNA having DNA as contaminant that requires additional treatment with DNase before performing any gene expression studies. Here, we present a simple and rapid method for the extraction of RNA from a filamentous cyanobacterium, Anabaena variabilis PCC 7937, that gives high yield and good quality of RNA without DNA contamination as tested by spectrophotometry, agarose gel electrophoresis, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis.