The ZR Soil Microbe DNA Kit™ is designed for the simple, rapid isolation of humic-free, PCR-quality DNA from microbes in soil. The kit can be used to successfully isolate DNA from tough-to-lyse bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and algae that inhabit a range of samples including clay, sandy, silty, peaty, chalky, and loamy soils. Soil samples are added to a ZR BashingBead™ Lysis Tube where microbes are rapidly and efficiently lysed by bead beating in a uniquely designed lysis buffer. Our Fast-Spin column technology is then used to isolate the DNA which is subsequently filtered to remove humic acids/polyphenols that inhibit PCR. The entire procedure can be performed in as little as 15 minutes, and there is no need for organic denaturants or proteinases. The ZR Soil Microbe DNA Kit™ can also be used to successfully isolate DNA from cultured bacteria, fungi, and yeast. A schematic of the procedure is shown below.

The ZR Soil Microbe DNA Kit™ can be used to isolate high quality DNA from a variety of soil types which yields robust products following PCR. Panel A: Physical characteristics of sampled soils (1-5). Panel B: Microbial, genomic DNA was isolated from soil samples (1-5) using the ZR Soil Microbe DNA Kit™. Approximately 10% of the eluted DNA was then separated in a 0.8% (w/v) agarose/ethidium bromide gel. Panels C and D show the results of PCR of microbial DNA isolated from the samples with primers specific for prokaryotic 16S rRNA (C) or eukaryotic rRNA (D). In the figures, the 1 kb size marker (NEB) is as indicated and the arrows show the prokaryotic 16S rRNA and eukaryotic rRNA PCR products.

DNA isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (strain TMY18) using the ZR Soil Microbe DNA Kit™ is high-quality and structurally intact. Equivalent amounts of yeast were processed using the ZR Soil Microbe DNA Kit™ or the kits from competitors M and E. Equal volumes of eluted DNA were then analyzed in a 0.8% (w/v) agarose/ethidium bromide gel. The size marker is a 1 kb ladder (NEB).