DMPC

dimethyl pyrocarbonate

DMPC is an acronym for di-methyl pyrocarbonate (AKA: dimethyl dicarbonate, pyrocarbonic acid dimethyl ester).

Purpose

• DMPC is typically used to treat water to remove RNases. It reacts with amine, hydroxy and thiol groups of proteins (such as RNAses) and inactivates RNAses.

Procurement

• You can buy DMPC for example at Sigma.

Use

• DMPC is a safer alternative to DEPC (known carcinogen). It is used in exactly the same way.

• Treatment involves adding DMPC to 0.1% v/v and incubating at 37°C for 1 hour to overnight followed by autoclaving. Autoclaving destroys DMPC and is an essential step. Esters may be generated during autoclaving giving rise to a 'fruity' smell (that is not coming directly from DMPC).

• Note that DMPC cannot be used with chemical solutions that have amine groups, such as Tris and HEPES buffers, or mercaptans. In such cases, use DMPC-treated water to generate the solution.

Safety

• DMPC is a safer alternative to DEPC (known carcinogen).

References

1. Handling RNA
2. RNase and DEPC Treatment: Fact or Laboratory Myth