Phenol/Chloroform extraction - What's in the aqueous phase besides DNA? (Jun/05/2007 )

Can anyone tell me what's in the aqueous phase(top DNA layer) besides DNA? I start out grinding up the tissue with Protinease K and CTAB buffer. Then add phenol/chloroform and spin it down. So what ends up in the top, aqueous phase?

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Hard question to answer.
I guess it is about anything that is hydrophilic at pH 8 (the pH your phenol is set at for DNA extraction).
Certainly there will be salts, some RNA that won't go into the phenol, amino acids, possibily some tough water soluble polysaccarides, (maybe present depending on the species of plant you work with), maybe the rare proteins that made it through.

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