Hi Everyone,

Does anyone have experience in doing nitrogen on RNA or DNA?  I have run 
DNA samples for carbon with no problems but the Nitrogen is proving 
problematic and I freely admit that I haven't a clue and that I am hoping 
that someone can provide a 'quick fix' :)

I am using an Isoprime with a Carlo Erba EA.  The problem is that my 28 
peak was only 5X10-10 Amps while the detector for mass 30 was swamped and 
there still appears to be mass 30 coming from the EA.  Never having run RNA 
for nitrogen is it possible that the combustion was not complete and that I 
am getting NO?  What other species could it be?  I wouldn't have thought it 
would be hard to combust properly.  (I will be checking my reduction tube 
tomorrow morning just in case something has gone wrong there)

Any suggestions on the analysis would be appreciated plus recommendations 
on which papers to read.

Thanks
Kim



Kim Baublys
Stable Isotope Laboratories
Department Of Earth Sciences
University of Queensland 4072
Australia

Ph:   +61 7 3365 1131
Fax: +61 7 3365 1277
http://www.uq.edu.au/geochem/