Isolation of Higher Molecular Weight DNA from Bacillus Cereus T Using Proteinase K

Abstract

A method is described for the isolation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from Bacillus cereus T. The DNA is released from the cells autolytically in the presence of proteinase K which prevents degradation by nucleases. The method is simple and eliminates many of the previously required steps which cause mechanical shear. The DNA is of high molecular weight and can be efficiently trapped in agar to give DNA agar which is suitable for hybridization studies.