These protocols are updated relatively often (annually or so), and as we publish papers containing new methods the protocols should appear on this page.
We have published detailed versions of our protocols for Northern blotting () and PFGE analysis ().
Protocols linked to recent papers
High mlecular weight DNA protocols including TrAEL-seq and END-seq: added July 2020, please cite Kara et al. PLoS Biology 2021,e3000886
Embedding cells in agarose- updated November 2024
Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis - added July 2020
Oligonucleotide 5' adenylation for linkers - updated November 2024
TrAEL-seq - Original protocol, updated July 2022. Now we always use the multiplexed protocl below.
Multiplexed TrAEL-seq - NEW November 2024 (v2.1). This completely replaces for the original protocol
- UPDATED software for TrAEL-seq data processing
Here are some videos showing how to make and handle agarose plugs (thanks Anna, Neesha and Alex for these!)
- NEW August 2021
- NEW August 2021
- NEW August 2021
- NEW August 2021
- NEW September 2021
- NEW September 2021
Transcriptome analysis of fixed, stained and sorted cells: NEW October 2020
Glyoxal fixation for RNA extraction from stained and sorted cells - NEW October 2020, please cite Channathodiyil and Houseley PLoS One 2021, e0240769
Circular DNA sequencing protocols: Added April 2020 for Hull et al. PLoS Biology 2019,e3000471
CircleSEQ (aka REC-seq) - please cite Hull et al. PLoS Biology 2019,e3000471
CircleSEQ SmaI (aka REC-seq) - please cite Hull et al. PLoS Biology 2019,e3000471
Low cell yeast DNA isolation - please cite Hull et al. PLoS Biology 2019,e3000471
Yeast replicative ageing protocols: added October 2018 for Cruz et al. eLIFE 2018, e34081
Grow, label and harvest cells using the MEP system - updated July 2022, many improvements relative to last version. Please cite Cruz et al. eLIFE 2018, e34081 in addition to the original Gottschling lab paper if you use these protocols
Low cell yeast RNA isolation - updated July 2020, please cite Cruz et al. eLIFE 2018, e34081
Our standard lab protocols
Basic protocols for new lab workers:
Making solutions
Handling enzymes
Agarose gels for DNA - updated May 2018
Basic rules for RNA work
Standard molecular biology protocols:
Cloning - updated July 2022
PCR - updated July 2022
RT-PCR
PicoGreen quantification - updated July 2022
qPCR- updated July 2022
Gel running, blotting and probing protocols:
Genomic Southern Blot - please cite Hull et al PLoS Biol. 2017 Jun 27;15(6):e2001333 if you use this protocol
Glyoxal gel - see
PAGE- updated November 2024. Now covers denaturing and non-denaturing gels
In vitro transcription - updated May 2018
Ladder labelling
Probing blots - updated July 2020
Western blotting - updated November 2024. Still not great...
siRNA blotting
Library preparation protocols:
mRNAseq library preparation - NEW July 2022 - uses NEBNext Ultra II kit, but with reduced reagents and improved cleanup for better cheaper preps
KAPA quantification - updated July 2020
AMPure XP bead purification - updated November 2024
Yeast work:
Yeast culture - updated July 2022. Major update and the FOA plate recipe now works!
Yeast genetic engineering - updated July 2022. Major update as was very out of date
Yeast CRISPR - NEW November 2024
Yeast Transformation - added May 2018
Harvesting yeast - updated May 2018
Synchronised meiosis - updated July 2020
BY4741 sporulation - updated July 2020
Yeast Colony PCR - updated May 2018
Yeast Spotting assay - added July 2020
Yeast DNA isolation - updated July 2020
Yeast SYTOX staining for FACS
ChIP for yeast
Yeast immunofluorescence
Yeast protein isolation - updated May 2018
TAP purification
Which RNA prep do I use? Probably hot phenol, but GTC can be better for ribosome analysis. The GTC miniprep is the fastest and most consistent if you need to prep many samples and aren't too fussy about perfect quantification. With few samples, consider mirVANA kits – these produce beautiful RNA but are expensive
Yeast hot phenol RNA prep
Yeast hot phenol RNA miniprep
Yeast GTC RNA prep (Tollervey lab standard prep)
Yeast GTC RNA miniprep - updated July 2022
Yeast mirVANA total RNA prep - added May 2018
These are our in-house protocols - they are provided as is and we accept no responsibility for their use or mis-use. Please observe your organisation's health and safety policy while performing these procedures.