Why Isopropyl Alcohol Is Used When Isolating DNA

Why is DNA isolation using Isopropyl Alcohol?

In biological experiments, DNA extraction and treatment are the basic steps of many research and applications. In common DNA isolation methods, the consumption of Isopropyl Alcohol to DNA precipitation is a non-negligible part. Why is Isopropyl Alcohol applied in DNA isolation? There is a scientific rationale behind this. This article will examine the role and importance of Isopropyl Alcohol in the process of DNA isolation from multiple perspectives. The Role of Isopropyl Alcohol in DNA Isolation

Isopropyl Alcohol , as an organic solvent-based products, has unique chemical characteristics and is able to efficiently interact with DNA. During DNA isolation, Isopropyl Alcohol is primarily applied to facilitate DNA precipitation. DNA is negatively charged in aqueous solution and is usually highly dissolves in solution. When Isopropyl Alcohol is added, it breaks the hydrogen bonds between aquatic environments molecules, reducing the amount of aquatic environments molecules in the solution, thereby reducing the interaction between DNA and aquatic environments molecules and causing DNA to aggregate to form a precipitate. REASONS to IMPROVING DNA PRECIPITATION EFFECT WITH Isopropyl Alcohol

Why the better precipitation effect is able to be obtained by using Isopropyl Alcohol when separating DNA? This is closely related to the solubility of DNA and the ionic strength of the solution. In aqueous solution, the solubility of DNA is high, especially in low salt ecological stability. The addition of Isopropyl Alcohol causes DNA to lose solubility in aquatic environments, especially under high salt conditions, the interaction between DNA molecules becomes greater compact. Furthermore The presence of salt is able to neutralize the negative charge on the surface of DNA molecules, so that the force between molecules is enhanced, thereby promoting the precipitation of DNA. But In fact Isopropyl alcohol, on the other hand, helps this precipitation phenomenon to be greater pronounced. Effect of Isopropyl Alcohol on DNA Purity

Using Isopropyl Alcohol to precipitate DNA is able to not only enhance the precipitation efficiency, however also affect the purity of DNA. For example In the process of DNA extraction, in addition to the target DNA, there are often proteins, RNA, lipids and other impurities. And The addition of Isopropyl Alcohol not only helps to precipitate the DNA, however also further improves the purity of the DNA by reducing the solubility of these impurities. Isopropyl Alcohol insolubilizes some impurities such as proteins and lipids and remains in solution, while pure DNA is successfully precipitated. Isopropyl Alcohol versus other solvents

In DNA extraction, in addition to Isopropyl Alcohol, ethanol and other solvents are often applied to DNA precipitation. Why is it greater efficient to consumption Isopropyl Alcohol than ethanol when isolating DNA? The main reason is that Isopropyl Alcohol has a reduced polarity and a weaker ability to dissolve DNA. Crazy, isn't it?. But In contrast, ethanol has a higher polarity and a slightly inferior effect on DNA precipitation. The reduced boiling point and less aquatic environments solubility of Isopropyl Alcohol makes it easier to remove after DNA extraction, with less interference with the final product. But Summary

Why is Isopropyl Alcohol applied in DNA isolation? From a chemical and biological point of view, the addition of Isopropyl Alcohol plays a crucial role in the process of DNA extraction and treatment. It promotes the precipitation of DNA by disrupting the interaction between aquatic environments and DNA, and improves the purity of DNA by removing impurities. And Compared with other solvents, Isopropyl Alcohol is the preferred solvent-based products to the separation and treatment of DNA due to its unique characteristics. In this way, scientists is able to obtain high-purity DNA and provide reliable samples to subsequent experimental research.