Simple method for RNA preparation from cyanobacteria

A simple and rapid method is presented for the preparation of RNA from various cyanobacteria. Unlike other methods that require a lysis solution, lysozymes, or proteinase K, the proposed method, called the bead-phenol-chloroform (BPC) method, uses silica/zirconia beads, phenol, and chloroform to break the cells and extract RNA more efficiently. Experiments confirm that the BPC method can successfully isolate total RNA from various cyanobacterial strains without DNA contamination, and the extracted RNA samples have a relatively high purity, concentration, and yield. Furthermore, the BPC method is more rapid, simple, and economical when compared with previously reported methods.