Sulfhydrylcellulose: a new medium for chromatography of mercurated polynucleotides

Abstract
A new medium, sulfhydrylcellulose, for affinity chromatography of mercurated polynucleotides, was synthesized. It is the product of reaction between aminoethylcellulose and N-acetylhomocysteine thiolactone. Sulfhydrylcellulose carries up to 90 .mu.mol of SH groups/g and is inexpensive, easy to prepare and stable. Because it binds mercurated RNA specifically and reversibly and exhibits no size discrimination, sulfhydrylcellulose should have wide applications.