Guanidine thiocyanate

Chemical properties

White cryst.powder

The Uses of Guanidine thiocyanate

Potent protein denaturant used in isolation of intact DNA, RNA.

The Uses of Guanidine thiocyanate

Guanidine thiocyanate is a useful tool for RNA isolation and protein solubilization. It is involved in the quantification of mRNA from hepatocytes. It acts as a medium for blood smaple lystae in order to maintain the integrity of nucleic acid. It is a chaotropic agent, mainly involved in the extraction of DNA and RNA. It is utilized to deactivate the influenza virus.

The Uses of Guanidine thiocyanate

Guanidine thiocyanate has been used as a component of the stabilization buffer for RNA lysis. It can be used for deactivation of endogenous RNases leading to denaturation of nucleoprotein complexes. It is also suitable for denaturation of macromolecules such as nucleic acids and proteins and for RNA isolation.

General Description

Guanidine thiocyanate is chaotropic salts which lyse cells and along with nuclease binding matrix it is also seen to inhibit nuclease activity during extraction of DNA. It works as a strong RNase inhibitor in extraction buffers.

Hazard

Irritant.

Flammability and Explosibility

Not classified

Biochem/physiol Actions

Guanidine thiocyanate (GTC) plays a role in protein denaturation. It is involved in separation of ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) from ribosomes and denatures ribonuclease (RNase). GTC has been studied in the unfolding and refolding of fluorescent proteins (FP). It can be used along with phenol and chloroform for extraction of RNA.

Appearence

White to slightly off-white crystalline powder

Characteristic

Guanidine Thiocyanate is a chaotropic agent commonly used in molecular biology research for the extraction of nucleic acids. Its high efficacy in denaturing proteins makes it particularly valuable in the isolation of RNA, as it helps to inactivate RNases that would otherwise degrade the RNA during the extraction process.