Can you run an RNA TBE-agarose gel?

[SEHuang]

Dear John:

Yes, you can run RNA on agarose gels, just to see if you have RNA. In an
1.5.% gel, you will see the 28S at around 1500 and the 18S at around 1000
bp (estimates) as two typical bands. The 5S runs much lower.
However, unlike DNA, RNA does not stain well if you use the method of
incubating the RNA with EtBr prior to loading onto EtBr free gels. Better
use the "EtBr-in gel-method".
RNA also stains well with the more sensitive (but more expensive) dye Sybr
Green (Molecular Probes, Inc) and might appear pink, while DNA is green
with this dye.

Sui H.

[jbwatson]

We are using a labeled RNA probe for the dectection of enteroviruses. We
want to make sure that the we have some probe. Can we just run it on a
TBE/agarose gel and stain with EtBr to detect the presence of the RNA.
Keep in mind that we don't care about getting size estimates.

John Watson
Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene

[jbwatson]

To those who replied...Thanks

JW