Data from: Preservation of RNA and DNA from mammal samples under field conditions

• Main Authors: Camacho-Sanchez, Miguel, Burraco, Pablo, Gomez-Mestre, Ivan, Leonard, Jennifer A.
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Zenodo 2013
• Subjects: Degradation; NAP buffer; Tissue storage; RNAlater; Rattus rattus; Field sampling
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.8gh7p

Ecological and conservation genetics require sampling of organisms in the wild. Appropriate preservation of the collected samples, usually by cryostorage, is key to the quality of the genetic data obtained. Nevertheless, cryopreservation in the field to ensure RNA and DNA stability is not always possible. We compared several nucleic acid preservation solutions appropriate for field sampling and tested them on rat (Rattus rattus) blood, ear and tail tip, liver, brain and muscle. We compared the efficacy of a nucleic acid preservation (NAP) buffer for DNA preservation against 95% ethanol and Longmire buffer, and for RNA preservation against RNAlater (Qiagen) and Longmire buffer, under simulated field conditions. For DNA, the NAP buffer was slightly better than cryopreservation or 95% ethanol, but high molecular weight DNA was preserved in all conditions. The NAP buffer preserved RNA as well as RNAlater. Liver yielded the best RNA and DNA quantity and quality; thus, liver should be the tissue preferentially collected from euthanized animals. We also show that DNA persists in nonpreserved muscle tissue for at least 1 week at ambient temperature, although degradation is noticeable in a matter of hours. When cryopreservation is not possible, the NAP buffer is an economical alternative for RNA preservation at ambient temperature for at least 2 months and DNA preservation for at least 10 months. DNA quantity and RNA quality and quantity for preservation of rat tissues under field simulated conditions and change in DNA concentration for different postmortem times. The file has the quality (RIN value in Bioanalyzer) and quantity data (NanoDrop) of RNA extractions and DNA quantity data (NanoDrop) from different rat tissues preserved for a combination of times and conditions. We also include DNA concentration from extractions done on muscle rat tissue after a series of time intervals 0 hours-2 weeks. RNA_DNA_extractions.xlsx