Elimination of substrates interfering with nucleic acids estimation

A simple method allowing quantitative purification of the ribonucleotides obtained by alcaline hydrolysis of ribonucleic acid (Schmidt-Thannhauser procedure) is presented. Nearly all the substances interfering with ultraviolet photometry and pentose estimation (orcinol) are elimanated by this procedure. This ribonucleic acid estimation method is tested on plant and animal tissue and on several microorganisms. The method is compared with three other procedures: the Schneider technique, the Ogur-Rosen prcedure and the classical Schmidt-Thannhauser method. Extraction of deoxyribonucleic acid performed on the same tissues by the three methods is compared. Estimations made by the diphenylamine method (Dische) and the indol reaction (Ceriotti) are compared. The results are commented and discussed. © 1959.SCOPUS: ar.j