answersLogoWhite

0

The term "chaotropic" means chaos-forming, a term which in biochemistry usually refers to a compound's ability to disrupt the regular hydrogen bond structures in water. Hydrogen bonding profoundly affects the secondary structure of polymers such as DNA, RNA, and proteins, as well as how water-soluble a molecule is. Under native conditions, nucleic acids are covered by a hydrate shell consisting of water molecules that maintain the solubility of DNA in aqueous solutions. With the addition of chaotropic ions to the nucleic acid, this relatively ordered structure of water molecules of the hydrate shell is destroyed. The chaotropic salts create a hydrophobic environment. Under these hydrophobic conditions, the silica membrane of the NucleoSpin columns is the most suitable binding partner for the nucleic acids. Proteins, metabolites, and other contaminants do not bind to the membrane and therefore are washed away during the subsequent washing steps. As a further feature of the chaotropic salts, the respective cations saturate the silica membrane with positive charges, which still improves the binding of nucleic acids under hydrophobic conditions. Chaotropic salts increase the solubility of nonpolar substances in water. They denature proteins because they have the ability to disrupt hydrophobic interactions. They do not denature DNA or RNA. Their function in the NucleoSpin Extraction Kit is to denature cellular proteins (such as DNase and RNase). The high concentration of salt also facilitates binding of the nucleic acids DNA and RNA to the silica membrane in the column.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Chemistry

Why does DNA have a negative charge?

DNA has a negative charge because of the phosphate groups in its structure, which carry negative charges due to the presence of oxygen atoms.


What is the purpose to add ethanol in DNA solution?

To precipitate the DNA out of solution. It is usually done in the presence of salt, such as sodium chloride or potassium sulfate. This process is called "salting out", meaning becoming out of solution (water), which also can be done with other electrically charged molecules (ionized), including proteins.


Why do we use ethanol to extract DNA?

Ethanol is used to extract DNA because it is able to precipitate the DNA out of solution due to its nonpolar nature. When added to a DNA solution containing salt, the DNA molecules become less soluble in ethanol and can be easily collected by precipitation with a centrifuge.


How to read an agarose gel and interpret the results?

To read an agarose gel, first identify the DNA bands by their size and position. Compare them to a DNA ladder for reference. Interpret the results by analyzing the presence, absence, or intensity of bands to draw conclusions about the DNA samples being analyzed.


Why does native DNA precipitate as fibers?

Native DNA precipitates as fibers because of its helical structure and high molecular weight. When DNA is exposed to certain precipitating agents, such as alcohol or high salt concentrations, the DNA molecules come together and form a network of intertwined fibers that eventually coalesce into a visible precipitate.

Related Questions

What is function of Buffer AP1 in DNA extraction?

The buffer AP1 is vital in DNA extraction as it acts as a cleanser to break up the lipids surrounding the cellular membrane. The buffer also maintains the right environment for the DNA so it is not damaged during the extraction process.


How does salt soap and ethanol extract DNA?

Salt soap helps break down cell membranes, releasing DNA from cells. Ethanol is added to DNA-containing solution to precipitate DNA out of solution, as DNA is not soluble in ethanol. The DNA can then be collected by spooling or centrifugation.


How does formamide denature DNA?

Formamide denatures DNA by disrupting the hydrogen bonding between complementary nucleotide base pairs in the DNA double helix. This leads to the separation of the two strands of DNA, making it single-stranded. Formamide acts as a chaotropic agent, weakening the structure of the DNA molecule.


Why sodium iodide for DNA elution?

Sodium iodide is used for DNA elution because it helps to lower the melting temperature of double-stranded DNA, allowing it to denature and release from the solid support. The high ionic strength of sodium iodide also promotes DNA interactions with the solvent, facilitating elution. Additionally, sodium iodide helps to minimize secondary structure formation by stabilizing the denatured DNA during elution.


What does salt do in DNA extraction?

Salt helps to remove proteins and other contaminants during DNA extraction by promoting the precipitation of these molecules while leaving the DNA in solution. The salt helps to neutralize the negative charges on the DNA and proteins, allowing them to come out of solution. This step helps to purify the DNA for downstream applications.


Use of NaCl in DNA Hydrolysis?

Salt is used to separate DNA.


What is the purpose of salt in the process of DNA extraction?

Salt is used in DNA extraction to help the DNA molecules clump together and separate from other cellular components, making it easier to isolate and purify the DNA.


What does salt do in extrating DNA?

Salt helps to neutralize the negative charges on the phosphate backbone of DNA molecules. This makes the DNA less soluble in water, causing it to precipitate out of the solution. Additionally, salt helps to stabilize the DNA structure by counteracting repulsion between negatively charged phosphate groups.


What happens when T2 phages are grown in the presence of radioactive phosphorus?

When T2 phages are grown in the presence of radioactive phosphorus, the phage DNA will incorporate the radioactive phosphorus into its structure during replication. This allows for visualizing the localization of the phage DNA within the infected bacterial cell using autoradiography.


What is the role of urea in DNA extraction?

Urea is a chaotropic agent, and its role is obviously denature proteins and DNA, and promote more stability to the system, breaking the hydrogen ligations between DNA and water and making the intramolecular ones more stronger.


Why is salt used in DNA extraction?

Salt is used in DNA extraction to help the DNA molecules clump together and separate from other cellular components. This makes it easier to isolate and purify the DNA for further analysis.


Has there been a hot dog recall due to the presence of human DNA?

Yes, there have been instances where hot dogs were recalled due to the presence of human DNA.