Patent ID: 8110351

Claim:
A method of isolating nucleic acid and protein from each other in a single sample, said method comprising: a) providing a sample that comprises nucleic acid components and protein components; b) contacting the sample with a plurality of magnetic particulate solid supports comprising: (i) contacting the sample of step b with a first magnetic particulate solid support under conditions wherein nucleic acid components bind to the first magnetic particulate solid supports in a sequence independent manner and the protein components remain substantially intact; and simultaneously (ii) contacting the sample of step b with a second magnetic particulate solid support distinct from the first magnetic particulate solid support, under conditions wherein protein components contained in the sample bind to the second magnetic particulate solid support through a chromatographic interaction and the nucleic acid components remain substantially intact; and c) separating the first magnetic particulate solid support to which are bound nucleic acid components and the second magnetic particulate solid supports to which are bound protein components from unbound components in the sample, thereby isolating nucleic acid components and protein components that are substantially intact; wherein the sample is not contacted with a chaotropic agent.