Here is the protocol you can follow:
(1) Run the gel. Locate the DNA of interest by autoradiography or by examination of ethidium bromide stained gels.
(2) Use a razor blade to cut out the upper 1/2 to 2/3 of the band of interest.
To recover a fragment of DNA identified by autoradiography, cut out from the X-ray film a small rectangle encompassing the image of the fragment. Align the film over the gel and cut out the segment of polyacrylamide bordered the rectangular hole in the film.
(3) Transfer the gel slice to a microcentrifuge tube. Use a sterile glass rod to crush the slice against the wall of the tube.
(4) Calculate the volume of the slice and add 1 to 2 volumes of elution buffer to the microcentrifuge tube.
Elution buffer: 0.5 M ammonium acetate, 10 mM magnesium sulfate, 1 mM EDTA (pH 8.0), 0.1% SDS
It is convenient if the volume of elution buffer is no greater than 0.5 mL since the eluted fragment of DNA can then be precipitated with ethanol in a single tube.
(5) Close the tube and incubate at 37 degrees C on a rotary platform. Small fragments of DNA (500 bases) are eluted in 3 to 4 hours.
(6) Centrifuge the sample at 12,000 g for 1 minute at 4 degrees C in a microcentrifuge. Transfer the supernatant to a fresh microcentrifuge tube, being careful to avoid transferring fragments of polyacrylamide.
(7) Add additional 0.5 mL volume of elution buffer to the pellet of polyacrylamide, vortex briefly, and re-centrifuge. Combine the two supernatants.
(8) Remove any remaining fragments of polyacrylamide by passing the supernatant through a disposable plastic column or a syringe barrel containing Whatman GF/C filter or packed siliconized glass wool.
(9) Add 2 volumes of ethanol at 4 degrees C and store the solution on the ice for 30 min. Recover the DNA by centrifugation at 12,000 g for 10 min at 4 degrees C in a microcentrifuge.
(10) Re-dissolve the DNA in 200 µL of Tris-EDTA (TE) buffer (pH 7.6), add 25 µL of 3M sodium acetate (pH 5.2) and re-precipitate the DNA with 2 volumes of ethanol as described in step 9. TE Buffer (pH 7.6): 10 mM Tris HCl (pH 7.6), 1mM EDTA (pH 8.0).
(11) Carefully rinse the pellet once with 70% ethanol and redissolve the DNA in TE buffer (pH 7.6) to a final volume of 10 µL.
(12) Check the amount and the quality of the fragment by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our
Nucleic Acid Purification and Analysis Support Center.