Kits for Isolating Protein Samples

Abstract

Novel kits and methods for recovering nucleic acids and proteins from a biological sample having the steps of mixing a biological sample with a nucleic acid binding solution and contacting the mixture with a first porous silica compound configured to reversibly bind a nucleic acid are disclosed herein. The fluid remainder of the mixture is gathered for protein extraction. The first silica compound is contacted with a nucleic acid elution solution which causes a majority of the nucleic acid bound to the first porous silica compound to unbind and enter the solution phase. The solution is collected, which contains isolated nucleic acid. The fluid gathered for protein extraction is mixed with a protein binding solution and contacted with a protein binding porous silica compound configured to reversibly bind a protein. The fluid remainder is separated from the protein binding porous silica compound. A protein elution solution is contacted with the protein binding porous silica compound to cause a majority of the protein bound to the protein binding porous silica compound to unbind and enter the solution phase, allowing the protein to be isolated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A kit for isolating nucleic acids and proteins from a single biological sample, the kit comprising:
 a nucleic acid binding solution,   a protein binding solution, and   a porous silica compound configured to reversibly bind a nucleic acid and a protein.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid binding solution comprises a chaotropic agent. 
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 2 , wherein said chaotropic agent is selected from a group consisting of urea, guanidine salts, and lithium perchlorate. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said protein binding solution comprises a precipitating agent. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 4 , wherein said precipitating agent comprises an alcohol. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 5 , wherein said alcohol is selected from a group consisting of isopropanol, ethanol and methanol. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said precipitating agent comprises trichloroacetic acid or acetone. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said protein binding solution comprises a precipitating catalyst. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 8 , wherein said precipitating catalyst comprises glycogen. 
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 1 , and further comprising a nucleic acid elution solution. 
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein said nucleic acid elution solution comprises water and a salt. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 1 , and further comprising a protein elution solution. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein said protein elution solution comprises water and a salt. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said porous silica compound is in a form selected from a group consisting of a silica syringe filter, a silica matrix, a silica frit, a silica particulate column, and a silicate pipette tip. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said porous silica compound is borosilicate.