On the Role of Ammonium Acetate in DNA Extraction
DNA extraction is a key step in biological research, during which ammonium acetate plays a crucial role.

Ammonium acetate is the first to have the effect of salting out DNA. It can adjust the ionic strength in solution. When the solution environment changes, impurities such as DNA and proteins react differently to ionic strength. The presence of ammonium acetate makes it easier for DNA to precipitate out of solution at a specific ionic strength, while impurities such as proteins remain in a dissolved state, thus achieving the purpose of preliminary separation of DNA and impurities.

Furthermore, ammonium acetate can help remove polysaccharides. Polysaccharides often exist in biological samples, and when they are co-extracted with DNA, they will interfere with subsequent DNA analysis and application. Ammonium acetate can interact with polysaccharides, or change the solubility of polysaccharides, or promote polysaccharides to agglomerate, and then separate from DNA to improve DNA purity.

In addition, ammonium acetate also affects the stability of DNA. Moderate concentrations of ammonium acetate can create an environment conducive to the stable existence of DNA and prevent its degradation. During the DNA extraction process, external factors can easily cause DNA strand breaks or structural damage, and ammonium acetate can mitigate these adverse effects to a certain extent and ensure the integrity of the proposed DNA.

In summary, ammonium acetate plays an indispensable role in separating impurities, improving purity, and maintaining DNA stability during DNA extraction, which is an important factor for the success of DNA extraction experiments.