The fidelity of the method used for the isolation/purification of DNA from biological samples or from reaction mixtures is of critical importance when considering the success of subsequent downstream molecular applications. Many molecular based applications including PCR, Southern blotting, automated DNA sequencing, microarray, etc., require that the DNA purification procedure result in high yields of high quality DNA. This considered, the scientists at Zymo Research have developed a range of DNA isolation kits that have been designed for the simple and rapid recovery of high yield, high quality DNA from a diversity of sample sources (see DNA Purification/Isolation Kit Selection Guides). Whether it is DNA fragment purification and clean-up, plasmid DNA purification, or genomic DNA purification, each DNA kit has been customized to ensure the procedure is kept simple, rapid and consistent in all applications.

Zymo Research offers a range of DNA clean-up kits for the rapid desalting, purification, and concentration of DNA from in vitro reaction mixtures and cell-free lysates (the DNA Clean & Concentrator™ - DCC™ product line) or from TAE/TBE buffered agarose gels (the ZymoClean™ product line). Our scientists pioneered rapid and efficient DNA clean-up and concentration with the development of the DNA Clean & Concentrator™. Since its inception, the DCC™ family of products has evolved into one of the most efficient and versatile methods for concentrating DNA from a range of sample sources into minimal elution volumes (i.e., ≥ 6 μl). DNA is effectively purified and concentrated from PCR, endonuclease digestions, DNA modification reactions, isotope/fluorescence labeling reactions, etc. The DCC™s facilitate the removal of DNA polymerases, modifying enzymes, RNA polymerases, ligases, kinases, nucleases, phosphatases, restriction endonucleases, etc., as well as free dNTPs and their analogs (including radiolabled and fluorescent derivatives). DNA recovered and concentrated using the DCC™s is ideal for use in subsequent sequencing, cloning, ligation, microarray, and endonuclease digestion procedures. The DCC™s are available as DCC™-5, DCC™-25, DCC™-100, and DCC™-500 formats that are based on the maximal DNA binding capacities (in micrograms) per column treatment. The 5 μg capacity DCC™-5 is available in both capped and uncapped Fast-Spin column formats as well as a high output 96-well filtration plate format (ZR-96 DCC™-5).

Zymo Research offers streamlined plasmid DNA purification kits that are setting the standard in plasmid purification. Our Zyppy™ plasmid prep product line allows the user to separate plasmid DNA from chromosomal DNA and cellular RNA in bacterial host cell lysates efficiently using procedures that are simple, rapid, user-friendly, and reliable when compared to those offered by the competition. The Zyppy™ Plasmid Miniprep Kit is the fastest and most simple method available to separate plasmid DNA from E. coli efficiently . The plasmid DNA is of the highest quality, is endotoxin-free, and is well suited for use in bacterial transformation, restriction endonuclease digestion, DNA ligation, PCR, transcription, sequencing, and other sensitive downstream applications including transfection. The Zyppy™ Plasmid Miniprep Kit features a Pellet-Free™ modified alkaline lysis method that bypasses bacterial culture centrifugation and resuspension steps common to classical plasmid preparation procedures. Additionally, all of our Zyppy™ kits include color-coded reagents that allow for the visualization and rapid assessment of bacterial cell lysis and buffer neutralization steps. The Zyppy™ plasmid DNA purification kits are available in Mini (≤ 25 μg), Midi (≤ 100 μg) and Maxi (≤ 500 μg) formats. Also available is the ZymoPrep™ line of miniprep kits that allow the user to efficiently isolate plasmid DNA from yeast.

Zymo Research offers a range of genomic DNA isolation kits that are suitable for extracting high molecular weight DNA from a wide variety of sample types. Kits are tailor-made for specific applications and feature chemical, Proteinase K, and/or mechanical lysis technologies depending on the starting material (see application guide).

These products provide for environmental DNA purification from tough-to-lyse plant material and from microorganisms in soil, sludge, sediment, or feces in as little as 15 minutes (see the application guide). The processes utilize BashingBead™ lysis to replace otherwise cumbersome procedures that rely on proteases and/or organic denaturants. For processing, samples are simply transferred to the provided BashingBead™ Lysis Tubes (or racks for 96-well processing) and sampled material is efficiently lysed by bead beating in uniquely designed lysis buffers. The tubes (racks) can be used in any homogenizer, bead beater, or vortex that can accommodate standard 2.0 ml tubes (or 96-well blocks). Fast-Spin column and plate technologies together with specially designed reagents isolate the DNA and remove PCR inhibitors such as humic/fulvic acids, polyphenols, polysaccharides, and lipids. The purified DNA is ideal for metagenomic analyses including PCR, methylation detection, arrays, and for digestion with endonucleases. Spin column and 96-well format kits are also available for tough to lyse tissues and insects (ZR Tissue & Insect DNA Kit™).

Both the ZR Viral DNA Kit™ (spin column format) and ZR-96 Viral DNA Kit™ (96-well format) have been developed to extract viral DNA from a wide range of biological sources including: whole blood, (fresh and stored), tissue, ascites, cultured cells, and from liquid samples. DNA isolated with these products is suitable for subsequent PCR, arrays, nucleotide blotting, and restriction endonuclease digestion procedures.

Agarose and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis are two common techniques for determining the size, purity and sequence identity (e.g., Northern and Southern blotting procedures) of nucleic acids. Nucleic acids can be visualized in gels using fluorescent stains (e.g. ethidium bromide) or by silver staining. DNA size markers (or ladders) are necessary to help identify the identity of unknown nucleic acids in such gel-based procedures. The ZR DNA Markers™ are created as defined size fragments that encompass a range of sizes from 50 bp up to 10 kb. This makes DNA size approximation easy for both PCR products as well as plasmid DNAs. The ZR 50 bp DNA Marker™, ranging from 50 bp to 1200 bp, is well within the common range of PCR generated DNA fragments. For larger DNAs, the ZR 100 bp DNA Marker™ and ZR 1 kb DNA Marker™ are appropriate. Each marker comes with product information detailing the product and its application.