Protocols for Isolation of Plasmid DNA

Plasmid DNA isolation is indivisible step in the development of diagnostic assays based on recombinant proteins and other molecular biology experiments. There are hundreds of protocols published for isolation and purification of plasmid DNA and still the search is on for the cost and time saving methods. Each protocol published has its own advantages and limitation and the plasmid DNA obtained by different protocols vary in purity and yield. Many of these are the modification of the classical alkaline lysis method while the available rapid isolation methods employ different solid phase minicolumns. To discuss all the methods of plasmid isolation will require volumes of book space hence in this chapter the most common and trusted protocols used invariably in diffferent laboratories around the world are described.