[RASMB] microbial contamination

[Dmitry Veprintsev]

Hi Chad
I clean windows (sometimes) in neat nitric acid+ 5% NaNO3.
I do not think centerpieces would like that.
But I would imagine soaking them in 70% ethanol for 30 min should be 
safe and will get rid of the bacterial contamination. But so does SDS as 
it lyses them.  I should think soaking in 2% SDS overnight would do the 
trick as well. Perhaps, sonicate them a bit it you have solid deposits.
For some easily degradable proteins I use "complete" protease inhibitor 
from Roche (at 1x concentration). It helps. It has some absorbnce at 
230/280 but it is better then  having no protein at all.
regards, Dmitry

Chad Brautigam wrote:
> Dear All,
>
> Much to my dismay, I am forced to conclude that one of my 
> centerpiece/window combinations for our analytical ultracentrifuge has 
> become contaminated with some evil microbe.  How do I know?  Well, 
> whatever's in there, it's tearing apart both protein and RNA with 
> gleeful abandon.  On Monday, I had a 27 kDa protein reduced to amino 
> acids in mere hours.  Terrifying!
>
> So I'm wondering how people have defeated these enemies in the past. 
>  I see in the archive that RNAseZap is recommended for killing the 
> RNAses, but I didn't come across anything to kill the hungry bugs.  A 
> little fire would teach them a lesson, but I doubt the centerpiece 
> would tolerate that very well.  I see from the chemical compatibility 
> charts that I could go after the evildoers with acetic (glacial!) or 
> hydrochloric acids.  Any suggestions are welcome and appreciated.
>
> And please, do not hold back!  I am willing to get extremely medieval 
> on their microscopic butts.  Remember, this isn't about good science 
> anymore- it's about revenge.
>
> With anticipation,
> Chad
>
> ======================================
> Chad A. Brautigam, Ph.D.
> Assistant Professor
> Department of Biochemistry
> The University of Texas
> Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
> Department of Biochemistry
> 5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
> Dallas, TX 75390-8816
> Office:  214-645-6384
> Fax:  214-645-6353
> Email:  chad.brautigam at utsouthwestern.edu 
> <mailto:chad.brautigam at utsouthwestern.edu>
>
>
>
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-- 
Dr. Dmitry Veprintsev
MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK