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

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.

生态学与保护遗传学研究需要开展野生生物采样。所采集样本的妥善保存（通常采用低温冻存方式）是保障所获遗传数据质量的关键。然而，野外现场为确保RNA与DNA稳定性而进行的低温冻存并非总能实现。我们对比了多款适配野外采样的核酸保存液，并以褐家鼠（Rattus rattus）的血液、耳组织、尾尖、肝脏、大脑及肌肉组织为样本开展了测试。我们在模拟野外环境下，对比了核酸保存（NAP）缓冲液对DNA的保存效果与95%乙醇、朗迈尔缓冲液（Longmire buffer）的差异，同时对比了其对RNA的保存效果与RNAlater（Qiagen公司）、朗迈尔缓冲液的差异。就DNA而言，NAP缓冲液的效果略优于低温冻存或95%乙醇，但所有实验条件下均成功保存了高分子量DNA。NAP缓冲液对RNA的保存效果与RNAlater相当。肝脏样本的RNA与DNA得率及质量均为最优，因此从安乐死的实验动物中采样时，应优先选取肝脏组织。我们还证实，未添加保存液的肌肉组织在室温环境下，其DNA可稳定留存至少1周，尽管数小时内即可观察到DNA降解现象。当无法开展低温冻存时，NAP缓冲液是经济实用的替代方案：室温环境下可实现RNA至少2个月的有效保存，以及DNA至少10个月的有效保存。