Molecular and General Genetics MGG

, Volume 151, Issue 2, pp 175–179 | Cite as

Rapid screening for plasmid DNA

  • Colin Hughes
  • G. G. Meynell
Article
Received:

Summary

A procedure is described for demonstrating plasmid DNA and its molecular weight, based on rate zonal centrifugation of unlabelled DNA in neutral sucrose gradients containing a low concentration of ethidium bromide. Each DNA species is then visualized as a discrete fluorescent band when the centrifuge tube is illuminated with ultra-violet light. Plasmids exist as closed circular and as relaxed circular molecules, which sediment separately, but during preparation of lysates, closed circular molecules are nicked so that each plasmid forms only a single band of relaxed circles within the gradient.

Keywords

Molecular Weight Sucrose Centrifugation Bromide Ethidium 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1977

Authors and Affiliations

  • Colin Hughes
    • 1
  • G. G. Meynell
    • 1
  1. 1.Biological LaboratoryUniversity of KentCanterburyEngland

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