New ‘Binary Technology' Boosts Plasmid DNA Purification Efficiency and Throughput
A key advantage of these membrane-based products comes from Bio-Rad's patent-pending "binary technology," which lets researchers perform lysate filtration and plasmid binding in a single step, in both plate and column formats. This increases throughput with high yields, reducing the number of overall purifications needed, and their associated costs.
Aurum products are adaptable to both vacuum and spin formats, as well as automated and manual platforms.
"Our binary design offers a new methodology in plasmid purification, minimizing processing time," explains Gabriella Armin, Bio-Rad Senior Product Manager, Sample Preparation, BioMaterials Division. "In the vacuum format, this new technology quickly and efficiently clarifies bacterial cultures in the lysate filtration plate or columns, while simultaneously immobilizing plasmid DNA in the plasmid binding plate or columns."
Following a wash step, highly-purified plasmid DNA is eluted from plates and columns, with binding capacities from 20 µg of DNA per well in the 96-well format to >500 µg of DNA in the maxi format. The result is high-purity isolated plasmid for use in any downstream application, including automated capillary and fluorescent sequencing, cultured cell transfection and cloning experiments.
Aurum Plasmid 96 Kit
Bio-Rad is beginning the Aurum roll-out with the 96-well system. The company calls it "the most flexible option for high-throughput plasmid purification needs."
Sample processing with the Bio-Rad vacuum manifold is streamlined to reduce the number of manifold and plate assembly steps between lysate filtration and plasmid binding. This, along with a plasmid binding capacity of 20 µg per well, translates into very high efficiency and throughput.
This flexible system works well with vacuum manifolds or a wide variety of robotics systems. Bio-Rad also offers customizable consumable configurations designed to meet laboratories' individual needs.
Midi, Maxi and Mini Prep Kits to Follow
Following the introduction of the Plasmid 96 Kit, Bio-Rad will round out the Aurum line with both small and large-scale column plasmid purification products. The midi and maxi columns incorporate the benefits of the exclusive binary technology, resulting in plasmid purification in a fraction of the time required by other column-based kits. Lysate filtration and plasmid binding are combined into a single step. The requirement for a high-speed centrifugation step to clarify the bacterial lysate is eliminated.
Aurum mini, midi and maxi kits can be used in either vacuum or spin formats. The mini columns have a binding capacity of >20 µg. The midi columns have a plasmid DNA binding capacity of >100 µg and the maxi columns can bind >500 µg.
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. is a multinational manufacturer and distributor of life science research products, clinical diagnostics and analytical instrumentation, based in Hercules, California. The company serves more than 70,000 research and industry customers worldwide through a network of more than 30 wholly owned subsidiary offices. For more information, call 800-876-3425, or visit the company's web site at www.discover.bio-rad.com
For more information about the Aurum plasmid DNA purification systems, visit the Bio-Rad Storefront on Bioresearch Online.