Large-scale isolation of plasmid DNA and purification of lambda phage DNA using hydroxylapatite chromatography

A rapid and relatively simple procedure for purifying large quantities of plasmid DNA is described. Plasmid thus purified contains no detectable chromosomal DNA and little RNA or protein. The procedure combines alkaline denaturation and hydroxylapatite chromatography and utilizes an improved method of separating DNA from RNA. It was observed that the phosphate concentrations at which previously bound DNA as well as RNA elute from hydroxylapatite changed markedly as a function of urea concentration. In the presence of urea concentrations higher than 4 M, the ranges of phosphate concentration over which DNA and RNA elute show no overlap. This permits efficient washing of hydroxylapatite-bound DNA under conditions which should remove all bound RNA. lambda Phage DNA is also easily eluted from hydroxylapatite under the conditions used.