Proteinase K treatment

Contributed by Martin Fitzpatrick, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom

Basic proteinase K treatment

  • Aliquot an appropriate volume of 10mM Tris-HCl
  • Add 1mM EDTA (ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid)
  • Add 1% v/v Tween 20
  • Add 0.1mg/ml proteinase K
  • Mix solution thoroughly then adjust to a pH 8.0 as appropriate with ,magnetic stirrer
  • Incubate sample overnight at 37’C.

Longer incubations and higher concentrations of proteinase K will improve DNA quality and yield from fixed tissue sections.

  • Boil sample in solution for 8 minutes to inactivate the proteinase K. Sample is now ready for PCR.