Miniprep/Qiagen kit protocol - source code

#include "BioCoder.h"

void main()
{
	start_protocol("Qiagen QIAprep Spin Miniprep Kit Using a Microcentrifuge");

	Fluid bacteria = new_fluid("bacterial culture");
	Fluid p1 = new_fluid("Buffer P1", "50 mM Tris-HCl pH 8.0, 10 mM EDTA, 100 µg/ml RNaseA", ICE_COLD);
	Fluid p2 = new_fluid("Buffer P2", "200 mM NaOH, 1% SDS");
	Fluid n3 = new_fluid("Buffer N3", "4.2 M Gu-HCl, 0.9 M potassium acetate, pH 4.8");
	Fluid pb = new_fluid("Buffer PB", "5 M Gu-HCl, 30% ethanol");
	Fluid pe = new_fluid("Buffer PE", "10 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 80% ethanol");
	Fluid eb = new_fluid("Buffer EB", "10 mM Tris·Cl, pH 8.5");

	Container flask = new_container(FLASK, bacteria);
	Container microcentrifuge_tube1 = new_container(STERILE_MICROFUGE_TUBE);
	Container microcentrifuge_tube2 = new_container(STERILE_MICROFUGE_TUBE);

	Column qiaprep = new_column("QIAprep spin column");

	//1. Resuspend pelleted bacterial cells in 250 µl Buffer P1 (kept at 4 °C) and transfer to a microcentrifuge tube.
	first_step();
	measure_fluid(flask, vol(1.5, ML), microcentrifuge_tube1);
	centrifuge_pellet(microcentrifuge_tube1, speed(SPEED_MAX, RPM), RT, time(1, MINS));
	measure_fluid(p1, vol(250, UL), microcentrifuge_tube1);
	resuspend(microcentrifuge_tube1);
	comment("Ensure that RNase A has been added to Buffer P1. No cell clumps should be visible after resuspension of the pellet.");

	//2. Add 250 μl Buffer P2 and gently invert the tube 4–6 times to mix.
	next_step();
	measure_fluid(p2, vol(250, UL), microcentrifuge_tube1);
	invert(microcentrifuge_tube1, 4, 6);
	comment("Mix gently by inverting the tube. Do not vortex, as this will result in shearing of genomic DNA. If necessary, continue inverting the tube until the solution becomes viscous and slightly clear.");
	time_constraint(microcentrifuge_tube1, time(5, MINS), NEXTSTEP);

	//3. Add 350 μl Buffer N3 and invert the tube immediately but gently 4–6 times.
	next_step();
	measure_fluid(n3, vol(250, UL), microcentrifuge_tube1);
	time_constraint(microcentrifuge_tube1, time(0, SECS), NEXTSTEP);

	next_step();
	invert(microcentrifuge_tube1, 4, 6);
	comment("To avoid localized precipitation, mix the solution gently but thoroughly, immediately after addition of Buffer N3. The solution should become cloudy.");

	//4. Centrifuge for 10 min at 13,000 rpm (~17,900 x g) in a table-top microcentrifuge.
	//5. Apply the supernatants from step 4 to the QIAprep spin column by decanting or pipetting.
	next_step();
	centrifuge_phases_top(microcentrifuge_tube1, speed(13000, RPM), RT, time(10, MINS), qiaprep);
	comment("A compact white pellet will form the bottom layer.");

	//6. Centrifuge for 30–60 s. Discard the flow-through.
	centrifuge_column(qiaprep, RT, time_range(30, 60, SECS));
	comment("Centrifuging for 60 seconds produces good results.");

	//7. (Optional): Wash the QIAprep spin column by adding 0.5 ml Buffer PB and centrifuging for 30–60 s. Discard the flow-through.
	optional_step();
	add_to_column(qiaprep, pb, vol(0.5, ML));
	centrifuge_column(qiaprep, RT, time_range(30, 60, SECS));
	comment("This step is necessary to remove trace nuclease activity when using endA+ strains such as the JM series, HB101 and its derivatives, or any wild-type strain, which have high levels of nuclease activity or high carbohydrate content. Host strains such as XL-1 Blue and DH5α™ do not require this additional wash step. Although they call this step optional, it does not really hurt your yield and you may think you are working with an endA- strain when in reality you are not. Again for this step, spinning for 60 seconds produces good results.");

	//8. Wash QIAprep spin column by adding 0.75 ml Buffer PE and centrifuging for 30–60 s.
	next_step();
	add_to_column(qiaprep, pe, vol(0.75, ML));
	centrifuge_column(qiaprep, RT, time_range(30, 60, SECS));
	comment("Centrifuging for 60 seconds produces good results.");

	//9. Discard the flow-through, and centrifuge for an additional 1 min to remove residual wash buffer.
	next_step();
	centrifuge_column(qiaprep, RT, time(1, MINS));
	comment("This is to remove the residual wash bufer.");
	comment("IMPORTANT: Residual wash buffer will not be completely removed unless the flow-through is discarded before this additional centrifugation. Residual ethanol from Buffer PE may inhibit subsequent enzymatic reactions. They are right about this.");

	//10. Place the QIAprep column in a clean 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube. To elute DNA, add 50 μl Buffer EB (10 mM Tris·Cl, pH 8.5) or water to the center of each QIAprep spin column, let stand for 1 min, and centrifuge for 1 min.
	next_step();
	transfer_column(qiaprep, microcentrifuge_tube2);
	add_to_column(qiaprep, eb, vol(50, UL));
	store_for(qiaprep, RT, time(1, MINS));
	centrifuge_flow_through(qiaprep, RT, time(1, MINS), microcentrifuge_tube2);
	comment("The flow-through contains the DNA.");
	comment("If you are concerned about the concentration of the DNA, you can alternatively add 30 µl water to the center of the column, incubate at room temperature on the bench for 5 mins and then centrifuge for 1 min. This will increase the concentration of DNA in your final sample which can be useful in some cases. See notes below for why you should elute in water rather than the Buffer EB they recommend if you plan to sequence your sample. Even if you are not sequencing, it may be beneficial to elute in water. For instance, if you elute in buffer EB and you are using this DNA in a restriction digest, then the additional salts in your sample can affect the salt content of your digest. This may matter with some finicky enzymes.");

	end_protocol();
}