SingleShot RNA isolation and Reverse Transcription

This protocol for RNA isolation uses the Bio-Rad SingleShot Cell Lysis Kit and Maxima H Minus Reverse Transcriptase.

Materials need for RNA isolation

Solution	Location
SingleShot Cell Lysis Buffer	All reagents located in kit in -20°C freezer (Sven) in original Bio-Rad packaging.
Proteinase K solution	-20°C freezer (Sven)
DNase Solution	-20°C freezer (Sven)

Materials needed for cDNA synthesis

Solution	Location
Oligo(dT) 18	-20°C freezer (Anna)
dNTP mix	-20°C freezer (Anna)
DEPC-treated Water	shelf above Katie’s bench
5x RT Buffer	-20°C freezer (Sven)
Maxima H Minus Reverse Transcriptase	-20°C freezer (Sven)
Thermo Scientific RiboLock RNase Inhibitor	-20°C freezer (Sven)

Other materials:

• RNase-free surface decontaminant

• Filter tips for pipettes

• Aluminum foil

• PBS

• adherent cells in a 96-well plate

• PCR tubes

• Thermocycler

Important

Since cells are being lysed, work does not need to be in the BSC. However, once the cells are lysed, extra precaution should be taken to prevent RNase contamination.

Dedicated RNAse-free tubes and tips should be used, all pipettes and working surfaces should be wiped down with the RNase-free surface decontaminant spray. Aluminum foil can be placed on the benchtop and wiped with RNase-free surface decontaminant to create an “RNase-free” zone. RNase contamination before cDNA synthesis will destroy your RNA and your data.

RNA isolation using SingleShot Cell Lysis

1. Thaw SingleShot Cell Lysis Buffer, Proteinase K, and DNase on ice.

2. Prepare Cell Lysis Master Mix on ice according to the number of wells to be isolated. It is recommended to make enough master mix for your number of wells plus 5%

Component	volume per well, µL	volume 96-well, µL
SingleShot Cell Lysis Buffer	48	4608
Proteinase K solution	1	96
DNase solution	1	96

3. Aspirate media from cells, and wash with 125 µL of room temperature PBS.

4. Remove PBS

5. Add 50 µL of prepared SingleShot master mix to each well

6. Incubate without agitation at room temperature for 10 minutes.

Important

Do not incubate for longer than 20 minutes at room temperature

Important

Do not mix the cells with SingleShot master mix by pipetting

7. After 10 minutes, transfer the mastermix solution from the plate to a PCR tube. Multichannel pipettes work well here as PCR tubes have the same spacing as a 96-well plate.

8. Immediately transfer to thermocycler. Incubate at 37°C for 5 minutes followed by 75°C for 5 minutes for heat inactivation of cell lysis.

Note

Cell lysate can be stored on ice up to 4 hours, at -20°C for 2 months, and -80°C for 12 months.

cDNA synthesis using Maxima H Minus Reverse Transcriptase

Important

Continue to work with RNase-free equipment and in an RNase-free area.

9. Thaw on ice the Oligo(dT) ₁₈, dNTP mix, 5x RT Buffer, Maxima H Minus Reverse Transcriptase (RT), and the RiboLock RNase Inhibitor.

10. Prepare RT master mix 1. Up to 9 µL of cell lysate from the SingleShot lysis kit can be used per reaction. AMB has used the maximum and obtained satisfactory results.

Component	volume per reaction, µL
Oligo(dT) 18	1
dNTP mix	1
DEPC-treated water	12.5 - (µL of lysate to be used, max of 9 µL lysate)
total	at least 5.5 µL if maximum 9 µL of lysate and 1 µL of RT is to be used

11. Add (14.5 µL - µL of lysate to be used) of RT master mix 1 to a new PCR tube for each reaction to be carried out. Normally, 1 reaction per lysate. Additionally, include an extra PCR tube to use as a no-reverse transcriptase control. 12. Add up to 9 µL of a cell lysate to a PCR tube containing RT master mix 1. 1 lysate per reaction. Mix gently. 13. Incubate lysate + master mix 1 at 65°C for 5 minutes, then cool on ice to melt secondary structures of RNA. 14. Prepare RT master mix 2. 0.5-2 µL of RT may be used per reaction (50-200 Units). AMB has used 1 µL and obtained satisfactory results. If using different amount than 1 µL, you may need to adjust the water amount in step 10.

Component	volume per reaction, µL
5x RT Buffer	4
Maxima H Minus Reverse Transcriptase	1 - can be varieed between 0.5 and 2
Thermo Scientific RiboLock RNase Inhibitor	0.5
total	5.5 µL

15. Add 5.5 µL of RT master mix 2 to each PCR tube. Mix gently. If doing a no RT control, replace the RT with water.

16. Transfer to thermocycler, incubate at 50°C for 30 minutes, followed by 85°C for 5 minutes for heat inactivation.

17. Proceed to qPCR or freeze for future use.

Note

cDNA can be stored at -20°C for 1 week and -80°C for longer. Avoid freeze/thaw cycles.