I used a spin column to extract DNA and as far as I know followed the protocol correctly.  The Nanodrop has high peaks at 250 and 280 and a moderate peak at 260 nm.  The 280 reading I am attributing to protein contamination but I did use proteinase K (20ul) in 180ul of sample and incubated at 57 degrees C for 4 1/2 hours.  I did a enzyme digest with the sample and got no bands, no smear, nothing at all with staining in EtBr.  I had other samples on the gel which came out fine so I know it is not the gel or stain or UV.  Does anyone know what might have gone wrong and whether I can salvage anything from these samples?  
   lab geek
 -alabgeek-
 
    The problem may be that there are still Enzyme inhibitors in your DNA...
 -gebirgsziege-
QUOTE (alabgeek @ Apr 1 2008, 03:11 AM) 
I used a spin column to extract DNA and as far as I know followed the protocol correctly.  The Nanodrop has high peaks at 250 and 280 and a moderate peak at 260 nm.  The 280 reading I am attributing to protein contamination but I did use proteinase K (20ul) in 180ul of sample and incubated at 57 degrees C for 4 1/2 hours.  I did a enzyme digest with the sample and got no bands, no smear, nothing at all with staining in EtBr.  I had other samples on the gel which came out fine so I know it is not the gel or stain or UV.  Does anyone know what might have gone wrong and whether I can salvage anything from these samples?  
   lab geek
Perhaps the proteinase K is the RE-inhibitor and/or the protein contamination? Sometimes people forget to remove, or not cleaning was not sufficent... 
-hobglobin-
QUOTE (gebirgsziege @ Apr 3 2008, 07:51 AM) 
The problem may be that there are still Enzyme inhibitors in your DNA...
What kind of inhibitors might they be and do you know what I could do to solve this problem? 
-alabgeek-
QUOTE (hobglobin @ Apr 3 2008, 08:12 AM) 
QUOTE (alabgeek @ Apr 1 2008, 03:11 AM) 
I used a spin column to extract DNA and as far as I know followed the protocol correctly.  The Nanodrop has high peaks at 250 and 280 and a moderate peak at 260 nm.  The 280 reading I am attributing to protein contamination but I did use proteinase K (20ul) in 180ul of sample and incubated at 57 degrees C for 4 1/2 hours.  I did a enzyme digest with the sample and got no bands, no smear, nothing at all with staining in EtBr.  I had other samples on the gel which came out fine so I know it is not the gel or stain or UV.  Does anyone know what might have gone wrong and whether I can salvage anything from these samples?  
   lab geek
Perhaps the proteinase K is the RE-inhibitor and/or the protein contamination? Sometimes people forget to remove, or not cleaning was not sufficent...
If the proteinase K is the problem...do you know if there is anything I can do to solve this? 
-alabgeek-
to remove protK: phenol and/ or chloroform extraction.
 -gebirgsziege-
QUOTE (alabgeek @ Apr 1 2008, 11:11 AM) 
I used a spin column to extract DNA and as far as I know followed the protocol correctly.  The Nanodrop has high peaks at 250 and 280 and a moderate peak at 260 nm.  The 280 reading I am attributing to protein contamination but I did use proteinase K (20ul) in 180ul of sample and incubated at 57 degrees C for 4 1/2 hours.  I did a enzyme digest with the sample and got no bands, no smear, nothing at all with staining in EtBr.  I had other samples on the gel which came out fine so I know it is not the gel or stain or UV.  Does anyone know what might have gone wrong and whether I can salvage anything from these samples?  
   lab geek
Do you need totally clean, protein-free DNA for the experiments? In most cases the DNA from spin columns is fine. 
-swanny-