MagAttract Power Soil Pro DNA Kit

• High-quality DNA isolation from tough soil, stool and other environmental samples
• Improved yield thanks to more efficient PowerBead Pro Plates and Tubes and lysis chemistry
• Improved inhibitor removal for greater DNA purity
• Greater downstream accuracy in representation of the microbiome
• Choose between your preferred automation system: KingFisher Flex or epMotion

The MagAttract PowerSoil Pro DNA Kits for the KingFisher and epMotion instruments comprise novel and proprietary methods to isolate microbial genomic DNA from environmental and stool samples. Especially difficult environmental samples, such as compost, sediment and manure, as well as other soil and stool types can be successfully processed with these kits. The kits combine QIAGEN’s second-generation Inhibitor Removal Technology^® (IRT) with more efficient bead beating and lysis chemistry. This will result in high-quality DNA that can be immediately used in downstream applications, such as PCR, qPCR and next-generation sequencing (16S and whole-genome).

The MagAttract PowerSoil Pro DNA Kits are optimized for the Thermo Scientific KingFisher Flex platform and Eppendorf epMotion instrument. They allow the automated high-throughput isolation of DNA from up to 384 samples in less than 1 day.

The MagAttract PowerSoil Pro DNA Kit is effective at removing PCR inhibitors from soil and stool materials from even the most difficult types. Environmental or human samples are added to a 96-well bead beating plate or bead beating tubes for rapid and thorough homogenization. Cell lysis occurs by a combination of mechanical and chemical methods. Humic acids are removed using IRT. Prepared lysates are transferred to the KingFisher Flex and epMotion platforms where total genomic DNA is captured on specialized magnetic beads in the presence of buffers. DNA is washed on the beads and then eluted, and is ready for NGS, PCR, and other downstream applications.

Both MagAttract PowerSoil Pro DNA Kits have demonstrably improved performances over their respective legacy and competitor kits (See "Better DNA quality with the Pro kits ”). For more information on the performances of both kits, please refer to the Interactive Product Profile.

Starting material

The kits are primarily intended to extract microbial genomic DNA from complex substrates, such as soil or stool. Typically, these samples contain high amounts of inhibitors that interfere with downstream enzymatic reactions as well as with compounds that can degrade DNA. The MagAttract PowerSoil Pro DNA Kits are especially designed to remove these contaminants or inhibitors as well as other proteins or nucleases from your samples.

The recommended starting amount of stool samples is 100 mg. The maximum recommended starting material for stool samples is 200 mg; for dehydrated stool samples, start with no more than 100 mg. In general, highest yields are seen with 50–150 mg of input stool material, though this varies with the source. The recommended starting amount of soil material is 250 mg. Microbial genomic DNA purified using the MagAttract PowerSoil Pro DNA Kits is ready for use in enzymatic reactions, such as PCR or NGS, or it can be stored at −30 to −15°C.

Bead beating

Bead beating is required to efficiently lyse the microbial cells of your microbiome sample. The MagAttract PowerSoil Pro DNA Kits are designed to be used in combination with either PowerBead Pro Plates (cat. no. 19311) or PowerBead Pro Tubes (cat. no. 19301). The use of other disruption media can lead to reduced yields of microbial genomic DNA. For convenient high-throughput 96-well homogenization, we offer the TissueLyser II (cat. no. 85300) and Plate Adapter Set (cat. no. 11990). In conjunction with PowerBead Pro Plates, the TissueLyser II provides high-throughput processing for simultaneous, rapid and effective disruption of up to 2 x 96 samples in only a few minutes.

For the disruption using 2 ml PowerBead Pro Tubes, the TissueLyser II provides simultaneous disruption of up to 48 samples in combination with the TissueLyser Adapter Set 2 x 24 (cat. no. 69982) or up to 96 samples in combination with the 2 ml Tube Holder Set (cat. no. 11993) and Plate Adapter Set. 

Homogenization using the Vortex-Genie® 2 with Vortex Adapters for 1.5–2 ml tubes (cat. no. 13000-V1-24) can also be used for the disruption in conjunction with PowerBead Pro Tubes. The order of placement of components and reagents for the platform portion of the protocol will be described in the downloaded software specific to the instrument being used.

Other open platform robots may be used with this kit. However, you may need to contact the manufacturer of your robot for help in adapting this protocol to their system.