A rapid and simple method for preparing RNA from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is described. This method involves heating and freezing yeast cells in the presence of phenol and SDS, allowing for the processing of up to a dozen samples in about 60 minutes. The method provides sufficient RNA for several northern blots. The procedure involves growing yeast cultures in various media, harvesting the cells, resuspending them in a buffer, and then extracting RNA using phenol and SDS. The RNA is then purified, precipitated, and stored at -70°C. The method is efficient and does not require a high-speed shaking apparatus or ribonuclease-free glass beads. The RNA obtained is of high quality, with no degradation of ribosomal RNA bands and excellent recovery of both high and low molecular weight RNA. The method was tested with seven different wild-type yeast strains and over two dozen derivatives, yielding between 60 and 300 µg of RNA per 10 ml culture, with an average yield of 135 µg. The RNA is suitable for quantitative studies, including ribonuclease protection experiments. The method is efficient and practical for preparing RNA from multiple yeast strains grown under various conditions. The RNA is suitable for northern blot analysis, showing catabolite repression of mRNA transcription. The method is simple, rapid, and effective for RNA isolation from yeast.A rapid and simple method for preparing RNA from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is described. This method involves heating and freezing yeast cells in the presence of phenol and SDS, allowing for the processing of up to a dozen samples in about 60 minutes. The method provides sufficient RNA for several northern blots. The procedure involves growing yeast cultures in various media, harvesting the cells, resuspending them in a buffer, and then extracting RNA using phenol and SDS. The RNA is then purified, precipitated, and stored at -70°C. The method is efficient and does not require a high-speed shaking apparatus or ribonuclease-free glass beads. The RNA obtained is of high quality, with no degradation of ribosomal RNA bands and excellent recovery of both high and low molecular weight RNA. The method was tested with seven different wild-type yeast strains and over two dozen derivatives, yielding between 60 and 300 µg of RNA per 10 ml culture, with an average yield of 135 µg. The RNA is suitable for quantitative studies, including ribonuclease protection experiments. The method is efficient and practical for preparing RNA from multiple yeast strains grown under various conditions. The RNA is suitable for northern blot analysis, showing catabolite repression of mRNA transcription. The method is simple, rapid, and effective for RNA isolation from yeast.