Thermo Scientific™ Guanidinium thiocyanate for molecular biology

Thermo Scientific™ Guanidine Thiocyanate (GTC) is a molecular biology-grade chaotropic agent widely used for RNA isolation, nucleic acid extraction, and protein denaturation. This compound acts as a powerful protein solubilizer and RNase inhibitor, making it an essential reagent for mRNA purification, nucleic acid preservation, and cell lysis protocols.

With ≥99.0% assay purity (titration) and verified absence of DNase and RNase activity, this crystalline powder is optimized for sensitive downstream applications such as RT-PCR, northern blotting, and transcriptomics workflows. It is particularly effective for blood, animal tissues, and cultured cells, though less suitable for plant tissues high in polyphenols and secondary metabolites.

Key Features

• ≥99.0% assay purity by titration
• RNase- and DNase-free – suitable for molecular biology applications
• Efficiently denatures proteins and lyses cells, preserving RNA integrity
• Soluble in water (up to 1420 g/L at 20 °C) and in ethanol
• Maintains nucleic acid stability in lysed samples
• Compatible with downstream dialysis against urea for protein applications
• Supplied as a white to pale yellow crystalline powder

Applications

• RNA isolation from blood, mammalian tissues, and cell lines
• Protein solubilization for purification or analysis
• mRNA quantification via hybridization assays
• Nucleic acid extraction buffers for viral or bacterial lysis
• Sample stabilization for biobanking and transcriptomic studies

Note: GTC is not recommended for RNA isolation from plant tissues with high levels of storage proteins or phenolic compounds.

Specifications

Available Pack Sizes

Safety & Handling

• Hazard Classes: Harmful if swallowed, causes serious eye irritation
• Storage: Keep container tightly closed. Protect from light and oxidizing agents
• Shelf Life: Refer to Certificate of Analysis for expiration date

References

• Chirgwin et al., Biochemistry (1979), 18(24), 5294–5299.
• Wadsworth et al., Anal. Biochem. (1988), 172(1), 279–283.

Thermo Scientific™ Guanidine Thiocyanate offers molecular biologists a high-quality reagent for reliable RNA extraction and nucleic acid stabilization. Its purity, performance, and ease of integration into standard protocols make it an essential reagent for RNA-focused research and molecular diagnostics development.