Trizol

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Trizol is the brand name of a solution used in RNA/DNA/protein extraction from Invitrogen[1], and is generally used to describe the method even when using another company's solution. The correct name of the method is Guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform extraction. It is also sold as Tri-reagent by MRC [2]. Trizol can give good yield for DNA and RNA. An alternative method for RNA extraction is phenol extraction and TCA/acetone precipitation.

TRIZOL is light sensitive and is often stored in a dark-colored, glass container covered in foil. It must be kept below room temperature.

When used, it looks exactly as if it were cough syrup, bright pink. The smell, more specifically, the smell of the phenol and guanidinium thiocyanate, are extremely strong. TRIZOL works by maintaining RNA integrity during tissue homogenization, while at the same time disrupting and breaking down cells and cell components.

It reacts strongly with chloroform and is thus used in this form of RNA extraction. Caution should be used when using TRIZOL (specifically phenol) and Chloroform.