Purification of RNA from animal cells using diethyl-pyrocarbonate

Extraction of RNA from animal cells by a method using diethyl-pyrocarbonate yielded 50-60% of the total RNA. RNA purified by a hot phenol-SDS method from adenovirus 2 infected cells showed about 9% homology with adenovirus DNA, and RNA purified by diethyl-pyrocarbonate-SDS showed over 7% hybridization. Profiles of RNA prepared by both methods were identical when studied by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.