Isolation of nucleic acids at elevated temperatures

In vitro method for isolating nucleic acids from a sample, the method comprising

• contacting the sample with a solution, which comprises
• (a) a buffering substance;
• (b) a reducing agent according to formula (I)
• wherein
• R1, R2 and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of
• —H, —OR4, —COOR5, —P(O)(OR6)OR7, —N(R8)R9, —S(O)0-2R10, and —SO3H;
• R4 to R10 are independently selected from the group consisting of
• —H, and —(C1-C15)alkyl;
• A1, A2 and A3 are independently selected from the group consisting of
• —(C1-C15)alkylene-, —(C3-C10)cycloalkylene-, —(C2-C15)alkenylene-;
• A1, A2 and A3 optionally are further substituted with one or more substituents selected from —OR4, —COOR5, and —(C1-C15)alkyl;
• and a salt thereof, and
• (c) an anionic detergent, wherein the anionic detergent is sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or lithium dodecyl sulfate (LiDS);
• and
• wherein the method does not include a step of contacting the sample with an enzyme, and
• wherein the method further comprises the step of contacting the sample with a clearing solution, wherein the clearing solution comprises a cationic ion, and wherein the cationic ion is K+, Rb+, Cs+, Mg++, Ca++, Sr++ or Ba++, and
• wherein the method further comprises a step of separating non-nucleic acid components from the nucleic acids comprising the transfer of the sample, after contacting the sample with the clearing solution, onto a matrix capable of retaining non-nucleic acid components, while the nucleic acids pass through the matrix, and wherein the matrix is a gel filtration matrix.