EXTRACTION, HYDROLYSIS, AND ELECTROPHORETIC ANALYSIS OF RIBONUCLEIC ACID FROM MICROSCOPIC TISSUE UNITS (MICROPHORESIS)

A procedure for the purine-pyrimidine analysis of RNA in the 100- to 1000 µµg. range is presented. It includes hydrolysis and electrophoretic analysis of RNA, which is extracted from single isolated tissue units, like single cells. The quantitative determination of the separated compounds is carried out by a photographic-photometric procedure in ultraviolet light. The determined values show a coefficient of variation of about ±7 per cent on test substance. Microelectrophoretic analyses of RNA from different sources have been performed and are compared to macrochemical analyses. The agreement is good in those cases in which it is possible to get any information at all through macrochemical analyses.