MagZol LS Reagent

MagZol Reagent is a reagent system for the isolation of total RNA from cells and tissues. The reagent, a single-phase solution consisting of phenol and guanidine isothiocyanate, is modification of the single-step RNA isolation method developed by Chomczynski and Sacchi. The sample is homogenized and lysed in MagZol Reagent which maintains the integrity of the RNA, while disrupting and denaturing endogenous RNases and other cellular components. Extraction of the lysate with chloroform further denatures proteins and separates the mixture into an organic and an aqueous phase. RNA remains exclusively in the aqueous phase, and is subsequently recovered by isopropanol.

This method is suitable for small quantities of tissue (<100mg) and cells (<5 X10⁶), and large quantities of tissue (up to 1g) and cells (<10⁸), of human, animal, plant, or bacterial origin. The simplicity of the MagZol Reagent method allows simultaneous processing of a large number of samples. The entire procedure can be completed in one hour. Total RNA prepared in this manner can be used for Northern blot analysis, dot blot hybridization, poly(A) + selection, in vitro translation, RNase protection assay, and molecular cloning. For use in amplification by thermal cycling, treatment of the isolated RNA with RNase-free DNase I is recommended when the two amplimers lie within a single exon.

Specifications

Technical Validation

MagZol LS Reagent was evaluated during formulation development using animal tissue and blood-derived samples to assess RNA extraction performance, recovery behavior and nucleic acid purity. The validation focused on a liquid-sample-compatible phenol / guanidine extraction workflow, followed by chloroform phase separation and alcohol precipitation.

In tissue-based testing, MagZol LS Reagent showed extraction performance comparable to a pH 4.42 Trizol-type formulation and higher RNA concentration than the RNA Solv control under the tested conditions. In chicken liver samples, MagZol LS produced RNA concentrations of 0.5271–0.5445 µg/µL, compared with 0.4095–0.4223 µg/µL for RNA Solv. In frog liver samples, MagZol LS produced RNA concentrations of 0.4159–0.4237 µg/µL, compared with 0.2575–0.2627 µg/µL for RNA Solv.

Blood sample testing was also performed using fresh porcine blood inputs. With 100 µL porcine blood, MagZol LS produced RNA yields of 2.674–3.172 µg, with A260/280 values of 1.958–1.965 and A260/230 values of 2.014–2.106. With 250 µL porcine blood, RNA yields were 5.443–6.135 µg, with A260/280 values of 1.983–2.059 and A260/230 values of 2.135–2.155 under the tested conditions.

Electrophoresis-based assessment confirmed that RNA could be recovered from the tested blood samples using MagZol LS Reagent. Because blood samples contain abundant genomic DNA, visible genomic DNA carryover may occur when sample input is high; therefore, DNase treatment or input optimization may be required for downstream applications that are sensitive to genomic DNA background.

Storage and Stability

MagZol Reagent should be stored at 2-8°C upon arrival and is stable for at least 24 months under the condition. However, short-term storage (up to 12 weeks) at room temperature (15-25°C) does not affect its performance.

Choosing the appropriate RNA extraction kits depends on sample type, RNA species and workflow requirements.

For detailed guidance across tissue and cell RNA extraction workflows, refer to the Tissue/Cell RNA Kits Selection Guide.