ABSTRACT. Conventional genomic DNA extraction protocols need expensive and hazardous reagents for decontamination of phenolic compounds from the extracts and are only suited for certain types of tissue. We developed a simple, time-saving and cost-efficient method for genomic DNA extraction from various types of organisms, using relatively innocuous reagents. The protocol employs a single purification step to remove contaminating compounds, using a silica column and a non-hazardous buffer, and a chaotropic-detergent lysing solution that hydrolyzes RNA and allows the selective precipitation of DNA from cell lysates. We used this system to extract genomic DNA from different tissues of various organisms, including algae (Dunaliella salina), human peripheral blood, mouse liver, Escherichia coli, and Chinese hamster ovary cells. Mean DNA yields were 20-30 μg/cm 3 from fresh tissues (comparable to yields given by commercial extraction kits), and the 260/280 nm absorbance ratio was 1.8-2.0, demonstrating a good degree of purity. The extracted DNA was successfully used in PCR, restriction enzyme digestion and for recombinant selection studies.

We described the principle of a new enzyme-immunoassay, competitive enzyme-liked immunoassay (CELIA), for quantitative measurement of soluble antigens and haptens. In the assay, binding of antibody to antigen-immunosorbent is competitively inhibited by the free antigen to be measured. The amount of first antibody bound to the immunosorbent is measured by an enzymatic technique in which a heterologous bridging antibody and a soluble antibody/enzyme immune complex are applied in sequence. The soluble complex we used was rabbit antiperoxidase/horseradish peroxidase. Peroxidase activity is inversely proportional to the concentration in the original sample of the substance to be assayed. The enzyme-linked reagents are potentially widely applicable to any substance to be measured. To demonstrate the feasibility of CELIA, we report a preliminary study of its application to the measurement of human chloriogonadotropin in serum and urine. The assay described for this hormone has a working range of 1 to 50 int. units per milliliter of sample. The technique obviates the disadvantages associated with measurement and handling of radioisotopes in radioimmunoassays and the only major instrumentation required is a centrifuge and a conventional spectrophotometer.