Fruit fly (larva)
Bullet Blender® homogenization protocol

  • Extract molecules (DNA, RNA, protein, chemicals)
  • Wet final product
  • Sample sizes: up to 300 mg.

Notes on the protocol: This protocol does not specify a particular buffer - you may choose which is most appropriate for your downstream application (nucleic acid isolation, protein extraction, etc.).

User note: The larvae should be washed in PBS to clean off surface contaminants (food, waste, etc.) before processing.

Materials Required

uL

One of these Bullet Blenders

  • Bullet Blender (BBX24)
  • Bullet Blender Blue (BBX24B)
  • Bullet Blender Storm 24 (BBY24M)
  • Bullet Blender 24 Gold (BB24-AU)

Reagents

Homogenization buffer
2 x volume of sample

Bead choices

  • PINK bead lysis kit (PINK) (for samples up to 100 mg.)
  • RED bead lysis kit (RED) (for samples between 100 and 300 mg.)
  • 0.5 mm zirconium oxide beads (ZROB05) Use a volume of beads equivalent to 1 x the volume of the sample

Procedure

  1. Place the sample in the tube with the beads.
  2. Add a volume of buffer that is twice the volume of the sample. Sample volume may be approximated by sample weight. E.g., for a 100 mg. sample, add 0.2 ml. buffer.
  3. Close the tubes tightly and place them in the Bullet Blender.
  4. Set the controls for Speed 10 and Time 3. Press Start.
  5. After the run, remove the tubes from the instrument and visually inspect the samples. If homogenization is incomplete, repeat the homogenization step at a higher speed.
  6. Proceed with your downstream application.