A method for the ligation of DNA following isolation from low melting temperature agarose

A rapid, simple, and reliable method is presented for the isolation and subsequent ligation of DNA from agarose gels. The technique involves the use of low melting temperature agarose, but with the inclusion of bovine serum albumin or gelatin to the ligation reaction.     

Isolation of high-molecular-weight plant DNA for DNA damage quantitation: relative effects of solar 297 nm UVB and 365 nm radiation

Quantitation of UV-induced DNA damages in nanogram quantities of non-radiactive DNA from irradiated plants by gel electrophoresis requires a prompt, efficient, high-yield method of isolating DNA yielding high-molecular-weight, enzymatically digestible DNA. To meet these criteria we devised a high-yield method for isolating from plant tissue, DNA whose single-strand molecular length is greater than about 170 kb. Leaf tissue is embedded in agarose plugs, digested with Proteinase K in the presence of detergent, and treated with phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF). The agarose plugs are then soaked with buffer appropriate to the desired enzyme treatment. Evaluation of the DNA on neutral and alkaline gels indicates its high molecular length and low frequency of single-strand breaks. The DNA can be digested with damage-specific and other endonucleases. The method is especially suitable for DNA damage quantitation, as tissue processing is carried out immediately after harvesting (allowing DNA lesion measurement at precisely known times after irradiation), and many samples can be easily handled at once. It should also be useful for molecular analysis of large numbers of plant samples available only in small quantities. We here use this method to quantitate DNA damage induced by 297 and 365 nm radiation, and calculate the relative damaging effects of these wavebands in today's solar spectrum.     

一种从琼脂糖凝胶中回收DNA片段的简单电洗脱装置

我们设计了一种简单电洗脱装置,从琼脂糖胶中回收ＤＮＡ。该装置由两个带旋盖的小管、两块透析膜和一个凝胶屏障组成。在电场作用下,ＤＮＡ从凝胶中迁移出来,通过凝胶屏障进入由凝胶屏障和透析膜组成的回收小仓。用微量吸样器收集ＤＮＡ,乙醇沉淀和清洗。该法ＤＮＡ的回收率约８５％;回收的ＤＮＡ可用于基因工程常规实验。     

Agarose Gel Electrophoresis for the Separation of DNA Fragments

Agarose gel electrophoresis is the most effective way of separating DNA fragments of varying sizes ranging from 100 bp to 25 kb¹. Agarose is isolated from the seaweed genera Gelidium and Gracilaria, and consists of repeated agarobiose (L- and D-galactose) subunits². During gelation, agarose polymers associate non-covalently and form a network of bundles whose pore sizes determine a gel''s molecular sieving properties. The use of agarose gel electrophoresis revolutionized the separation of DNA. Prior to the adoption of agarose gels, DNA was primarily separated using sucrose density gradient centrifugation, which only provided an approximation of size. To separate DNA using agarose gel electrophoresis, the DNA is loaded into pre-cast wells in the gel and a current applied. The phosphate backbone of the DNA (and RNA) molecule is negatively charged, therefore when placed in an electric field, DNA fragments will migrate to the positively charged anode. Because DNA has a uniform mass/charge ratio, DNA molecules are separated by size within an agarose gel in a pattern such that the distance traveled is inversely proportional to the log of its molecular weight³. The leading model for DNA movement through an agarose gel is "biased reptation", whereby the leading edge moves forward and pulls the rest of the molecule along⁴. The rate of migration of a DNA molecule through a gel is determined by the following: 1) size of DNA molecule; 2) agarose concentration; 3) DNA conformation⁵; 4) voltage applied, 5) presence of ethidium bromide, 6) type of agarose and 7) electrophoresis buffer. After separation, the DNA molecules can be visualized under uv light after staining with an appropriate dye. By following this protocol, students should be able to: 1. Understand the mechanism by which DNA fragments are separated within a gel matrix 2. Understand how conformation of the DNA molecule will determine its mobility through a gel matrix 3. Identify an agarose solution of appropriate concentration for their needs 4. Prepare an agarose gel for electrophoresis of DNA samples 5. Set up the gel electrophoresis apparatus and power supply 6. Select an appropriate voltage for the separation of DNA fragments 7. Understand the mechanism by which ethidium bromide allows for the visualization of DNA bands 8. Determine the sizes of separated DNA fragments       

Preparation of HMW DNA from Plant Nuclei and Chromosomes Isolated from Root Tips

Simple, fast and cost-effective method for preparation of DNA with high molecular weight (HMW DNA) from plant nuclei and mitotic chromosomes has been developed. The technique involves mechanical homogenization of formaldehyde-fixed root tips, purification of nuclei and/or chromosomes on sucrose gradient, embedding in low-melting-point agarose, and DNA isolation in agarose plugs. Alternatively, nuclei and chromosomes may be purified using flow cytometry. Majority of DNA obtained is megabase-sized and well digestible by restriction endonucleases. The method is highly efficient as microgram amounts of DNA can be obtained from only several milligrams of plant tissue. Handling negligible amounts of plant material reduces the consumption of chemicals. Furthermore, the use of root tips makes it possible to obtain high-quality DNA even from plant species with leaves that are rigid or rich in secondary metabolites such as polyphenols. It is expected that preparation of HMW DNA from root tip nuclei will facilitate long-range mapping and construction of large-insert DNA libraries also in these species. Successful isolation of HMW DNA from flow-sorted chromosomes opens a way for construction of chromosome-specific large-insert libraries in plants. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

一种用于PCR模板制备的电泳产物简易回收方法

为了探索一种简便、有效而且能从琼脂糖凝胶中大量回收用于第2次PCR扩增的DNA电泳条带的方法,采用刀片切胶法和牙签插胶法从琼脂糖中回收DNA,并进行了两种方法的比较．结果显示牙签插胶法回收的DNA用作第2次PCR的模板,获得了清晰、稳定的PCR产物电泳条带,用该法成功地制备了一批DNA微阵列探针．由此可见牙签插胶法是一种简便、快速、有效的用于PCR模板的DNA琼脂糖凝胶回收法．     

一种简便、高效、经济的从凝胶中回收DNA的方法

目的:尝试一种简便、高效的从凝胶中回收DNA的方法。方法:在Eppendorf管的管底用注射器扎孔,将一小团用Eppendorf管融化后拉成的细丝放入管中,把含有DNA的凝胶放在细丝上,离心,收集从管底流出的液体,经酚氯仿抽提后用乙醇沉淀DNA。结果:经过简单的离心即可近乎100%地回收凝胶中的DNA。结论:使用该方法从琼脂糖凝胶回收DNA,操作简单,回收率高,无其他试剂污染。     

Identification and authentication of animal cell culture by polymerase chain reaction amplification and DNA sequencing

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequence analysis were used to identify the species origin of cell lines used in a cell culture facility where various cell lines of different species are routinely propagated. The aldolase gene family was selected for PCR amplification because the DNA sequences of this gene are highly conserved over a wide range of animals and humans. A total of 36 cell lines representing 13 different species were selected for this study. The DNA from each cell line was amplified, and PCR products were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The results showed unique profiles of amplified bands on agarose gels that allowed differentiation among non-closely related species. However, DNA amplification of closely related species, including rat and mouse or human and primate, resulted in similar and indistinguishable banding patterns that could be further differentiated by DNA sequence analysis. These results suggested that aldolase gene amplification coupled with DNA sequence analysis is a useful tool for identification of cell lines and has potential application for use in identification of interspecies cross-contamination.     

平末端DNA随机连接构建重组质粒

目的:拼接DNA片段并克隆。方法:用T4DNA连接酶将DNA片段以平末端随机连接,随后用限制性内切酶切割,琼脂糖电泳分离酶切产物,挑选特定片段纯化回收,与线性化的载体质粒连接,转化大肠杆菌感受态细胞。结果:通过以上步骤,成功拼接了不同DNA片段,构建了含有目的拼接片段的重组质粒。结论:该方法简便、易行、可靠,可作为拼接、克隆DNA的备选方案,在分子生物学研究和基因工程中应用。     

PCR特异产物回收纯化方法的比较

方法：采用三种方法对苹果褪绿叶斑病毒RT-PCR的特异DNA产物进行回收纯化。目的：针对不同情况,选择适宜的回收纯化方法。结果：用普通琼脂糖替代低融点琼脂糖,回收纯化后产物的浓度及纯度与低融点琼脂糖法基本一致,完全可以用普通琼脂糖替代低融点琼脂糖进行DNA片段的回收纯化,从而降低成本,简化操作。玻璃奶法的回收纯度明显高于低融点琼脂糖法和普通琼脂糖法,且更快速安全,是采用普通琼脂糖法还是采用玻璃奶法回收纯化DAN片段应以实际需要而定。     

转基因棉籽检测中DNA模板提取方法研究

在转基因棉籽的检测中,需要得到合适的DNA模板,以进行PCR扩增。应用CTAB1,CTAB2,KIT,KIT1,SDS等五种DNA模板提取方法提取转基因棉籽中的DNA模板,根据模板DNA的OD260/OD380值,波长扫描,琼脂糖凝胶电泳,3个基因的PCR扩增结果,评价五种DNA模板提取方法的提取效果,发现以KIT1方法提取棉籽中DNA模板效果为好,可用于实际检测中。     

DNA isolation from forest soil suitable for PCR assays of fungal and plant rRNA genes

This protocol for DNA isolation from forest soil samples is advantageous because it uses only one liquid transference step and can process several samples with minimal time and equipment. The use of benzyl chloride early in the extraction protocol increases DNA yield and purity. The obtained DNA is useful for PCR amplification of nuclear and mitochondrial ribosomal related sequences from fungi and ribosomal DNA from plant chloroplasts. Isolated DNA can be used either undiluted or at low dilutions in PCR assays. A final glassmilk treatment of isolated DNA is useful to recover high molecular weight DNA fractions from agarose gel. DNA losses during glassmilk treatment can generate negative PCR results.     

Short protocol for pulsed field gel electrophoresis of a variety of Clostridia species

While pulsed field gel electrophoresis has become an important tool for genotyping of bacteria, one of its drawbacks is that standard methods are rather time-consuming. In order to overcome this problem, shortened procedures for DNA preparation have been developed for some bacterial species. The aim of this study was to examine if a short procedure used for pulsed field gel electrophoresis of Clostridium botulinum could be applied to other Clostridia species. For this, the protocol was modified and used to prepare the DNA of 34 strains of 25 different Clostridia species. In contrast to a standard procedure, which takes at least 5 days from DNA extraction to completion of the electrophoresis, this protocol yielded results within 2 days. In order to directly compare the results of the short protocol with those of the standard, long procedure, parallel DNA preparations were performed using both methods and the two DNA samples thus obtained per strain were then run on the same gel. Briefly, the procedure was as follows. After embedding the bacterial cells in agarose, the agarose blocks were incubated for 1 h in lysis solution containing lysozyme, mutanolysin, lysostaphin and RNase. This was followed by a 1-h proteinase K treatment. Then, slices were cut from the agarose blocks and washed for 15 min in TE buffer, these washes were repeated four times with fresh TE. After a 2-h restriction with SmaI, electrophoresis was carried out overnight.     

Moving pictures of DNA released upon lysis from bacteria,chloroplasts, and mitochondria

Summary Cells and organelles suspended in gelled agarose agarose were lysed with detergent and protease, stained with ethidium bromide and their DNA was observed by fluorescence microscopy. The migration of individual DNA molecules during electrophoresis on a microscope slide was recorded on video tape so that moving pictures could be analyzed. The DNA from lysed bacteria (Escherichia coli andAgrobacterium tumefaciens) appeared as a rosette of at least twenty loops of varying size, whereas that from bacterial spheroplasts (E. coli andPseudomonas aeruginosa) appeared as circular forms or rods with many fine filaments of RNA extending toward the anode. The DNA from chloroplasts of watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris) and pea (Pisum sativum) did not appear as a rosette of loops. Many or most of the chloroplast DNA molecules per lysed chloroplast were immobile in the electric field, as if in circular form hooked on agarose fibers. The amount of DNA-fluorescence per watermelon mitochondrial particle was much less than that found for either chloroplasts or bacteria. The appearance of the mitochondrial DNA during electrophoresis was that of linear molecules, no obviously circular forms were evident and no rosette structures were observed.Abbreviations cpDNA chloroplast DNA - DAPI 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole - kb kilobase pairs - mtDNA mitochondrial DNA - PFGE pulsed-field gel electrophoresis     

一种有效回收小分子DNA片段的方法

介绍了一种有效回收小于200bp DNA片段的方法。用改进的冻融-离心回收法对155bp的DNA片段进行回收,并且与常规冻融-离心回收、TaKaRa回收试剂盒的结果做对比,用琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测回收结果,紫外吸收法定量分析。结果证明:改进的方法是一种经济、方便、可靠的回收小分子DNA片段的方法。     

Rapid small-scale DNA isolation from filamentous cyanobacteria

Abstract A rapid small-scale DNA isolation procedure is described for the filamentous cyanobacteria, which yields enough chromosomal and plasmid DNA for restriction endonuclease digestions, Souther hybridizations, and electroelution from gels for further manipulation. DNA from seven strains of cyanobacteria were isolated and analyzed on agarose gels.     

The carboxyl terminal domain of Escherichia coli DNA topoisomerase I confers higher affinity to DNA

Limited digestion of E. coli DNA topoisomerase I with trypsin or papain generated a DNA-binding domain of MW 14,000 corresponding to the carboxyl terminal of the enzyme. This fragment binds to single-stranded DNA agarose as tightly as the intact enzyme. It required around 400 mM NaCl for elution. A truncated topoisomerase that lacks this C-terminal domain was purified. It was eluted from the single-stranded DNA agarose column at around 150 mM NaCl. Although the truncated enzyme could relax negatively supercoiled DNA as efficiently as the intact enzyme at low ionic strength, its processivity was more sensitive to increasing salt concentration. Measurement of binding to fluorescent etheno-M13 DNA also demonstrated that the presence of the C-terminal domain confers higher affinity to DNA for the enzyme.     

Adsorptive purification of pDNA on superporous rigid cross-linked cellulose matrix

Use of plasmid DNA (pDNA) in the emerging gene therapy requires pure DNA in large quantities requiring production of safe DNA on large scale. While a number of kit-based DNA purification techniques have become popular, large scale cost effective purification of DNA remains a technological challenge. Most traditional, as well as newly developed methods for DNA purification are expensive, tedious, use toxic reagents, and/or generally not amenable for scaled up production. Our attempts to develop a scalable adsorptive separation technology resulted in successful use of indigenously developed rigid cross-linked cellulose beads for single step purification of pDNA from alkaline cell lysates. This mode of purification employs a combination of intra-particle interactions that could give a product plasmid DNA free from chromosomal DNA, RNA and host proteins in a single scalable chromatographic step. The technology can be employed as a batch adsorption step on small scale, or on a large scale column chromatography. A high copy number 9.8 kb plasmid (from an Escherichia coli strain) was purified in yields of 77 and 52%, respectively in batch and column modes. The product obtained was homogeneous supercoiled plasmid with no RNA and protein contamination confirmed by quantitative analysis, agarose gel electrophoresis and SDS-PAGE.     

一种用于DNA甲基化分析的改进型亚硫酸氢盐转化法

DNA甲基化分析是认识生理、病理条件下基因表达变化的重要途径.亚硫酸氢盐转化是DNA甲基化分析的瓶颈.本文旨在改进琼脂糖 亚硫酸氢盐DNA处理方案(agarose bisulfite method),建立一种简便稳定、适合常规甲基化分析的亚硫酸氢盐转化法.把DNA包入普通琼脂糖,以饱和亚硫酸氢盐在较高的温度下快速处理,然后用离心柱型琼脂糖凝胶DNA回收试剂盒,集DNA凝胶回收、脱盐、脱磺基和纯化于一体,完成整个转化过程.Bisulfite-PCR、克隆测序和酶切法分析转化率、转化特异性和转化物的质量.用该方案处理的HeLa细胞DNA,多个片段的转化率均大于98%,甲基化片段96.2%的CpG保持不变,可以扩增605 bp的较大片段,灵敏度介于普通法和琼脂糖亚硫酸氢盐法之间,而重复性较二者都好.改良后的方案简化了操作流程,快速稳定,易学易用,可实现高效特异转化,适合于一般实验者对常规检材进行DNA甲基化分析.     

氯化钠密度梯度离心法制备用于显微注射的外源DNA片段

DNA显微注射是生产转基因动物最可靠和最常使用的一种方法,外源DNA的纯度对显微注射的成功起着至关重要的作用。本文介绍用氯化钠密度梯度离心的方法制备用于显微注射的外源DNA片段。与传统的琼脂糖凝胶回收的方法相比较,用此方法制备的外源DNA片段对小鼠受精卵进行显微注射后,受卵体母鼠的胚胎存活率,以及子代小鼠的外源基因整合率均有明显的提高。这一方法可为进一步提高转基因动物的成功率,提供方法学上的参考。 Abstract:DNA microinjection is the most popular and reliable method of producing transgenic animals.The purity of foreign DNA plays an important role for the success of microinjection.In this study,we introduced the use of sodium chloride step gradients in fractionating foreign DNA fragment for microinjection.The data demonstrated that,compared with the conventional agarose gel extraction method,NaCl purification scheme of toreign DNA could improve the treated embryo survival and foreign DNA intergration rate markedly.