Rapid amplification of genomic ends (RAGE) as a simple method to clone flanking genomic DNA

This report describes the amplification of upstream genomic sequences using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based solely on downstream DNA information from a cDNA clone. In this novel and rapid technique, genomic DNA (gDNA) is first incubated with a restriction enzyme that recognizes a site within the 5′ end of a gene, followed by denaturation and polyadenylation of its free 3′ ends with terminal transferase. The modified gDNA is then used as template for PCR using a gene-specific primer complementary to a sequence in the 3′ end of its cDNA and an anchored deoxyoligothymidine primer. A second round of PCR is then performed with a second, nested gene-specific primer and the anchor sequence primer. The resulting PCR product is cloned and its sequence determined. Three independent plant genomic clones were isolated using this method that exhibited complete sequence identity to their cDNAs and to the primers used in the amplification.     

Directional genome walking using PCR

We describe here a PCR-based "directional genome walking" protocol. The basic procedure for the amplification consists of two rounds of PCR. A primary PCR was performed, on the genomic DNA using a biotinylated primer specific to a known sequence in the genome along with four universal walker primers that were designed with partial degeneracy. The biotinylated primary PCR products were immobilized on streptavidin-linked paramagnetic beads. This step removed all nonspecific amplification products, and the purified template was used for the second PCR using a nested primer and the walker primer-2 to increase specificity. This technique is potentially useful for cloning promoter regions and has been successfully used to isolate 5'-flanking genomic regions of many cDNA clones previously isolated by us.     

Cloning and direct sequencing of plant promoters using primer-adapter mediated PCR on DNA coupled to a magnetic solid phase.

A method that allows amplification and direct sequencing or cloning of an unknown DNA segment flanked by a known sequence is described using barley genomic DNA. The method avoids the step of circularization necessary for inverse PCR by ligation of primer-adapters to restricted genomic DNA. Specificity is achieved in the first amplification step; linear PCR with a biotinylated primer complementary to the known flanking sequence (primer 1-B) produces a single-stranded product that is purified employing streptavidin-coated magnetic beads. After this step, which removes genomic DNA, two rounds of exponential PCR are performed, first with the adapter-primer and primer 1 and second with primer 1 substituted by a nested primer 2. If the second primer is biotinylated, the product can be sequenced directly using solid-phase sequencing. We have employed this method to sequence directly and to clone the promoters of two late embryogenesis-abundant (Lea) genes (B19.4 and B19.3) from barley. Lea B19.4 and B19.3 encode putative desiccation-protective proteins that act in the final stages of embryogenesis and have previously been cloned as cDNAs. We demonstrate here that their proximal promoter regions are very similar (80% identity) and that both contain putative abscisic acid-responsive elements.     

Isolation and characterization of a mouse subtelomeric sequence

A mouse subtelomeric sequence, ST1, was generated from genomic DNA of the mouse HR9 (129/Sv origin) cell line by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a single telomeric primer. ST1 was cloned and characterized: it is composed of 670 bp of novel DNA sequence flanked on each end by inverted telomeric hexanucleotide repeats (TTAGGG)_n. PCR amplification from BALB/c mouse DNA using this single primer gave the same major product. Southern analysis and PCR using internal ST1 primers confirmed that the ST1 sequence is present in mouse genomic DNA. In situ hybridization to metaphase chromosomes of SJL origin mapped ST1 to many, if not every, mouse telomere. PCR experiments using different combinations of the telomeric, minor satellite, and ST1 primers indicated that some ST1 copies are adjacent to minor satellite sequences, that telomeric and ST1 sequences are not generally interspersed with minor satellite sequences,and that ST1 and the minor satellite have a consistent and specific orientation relative to each other and to the telomere.by H.F. Willard     

Amplification and sequence analysis of DNA flanking integrated proviruses by a simple two-step polymerase chain reaction method.

We describe a two-step polymerase chain reaction method that can be used for the amplification of cellular DNA sequences adjacent to an integrated retroviral provirus. The technique involves a partly degenerate, arbitrary primer that will hybridize in the provirus-flanking cellular DNA. By using this primer in combination with a biotinylated provirus-specific primer, a provirus-cellular DNA junction fragment can be isolated from the nonspecific amplification products by using streptavidin-coated magnetic beads. A second amplification employing a nested provirus-specific primer and a biotinylated nondegenerate primer derived from the partly degenerate primer followed by purification with streptavidin-coated beads enhances the specificity and the efficiency of recovery of a fragment(s) containing the unknown flanking sequences. In addition to being relevant in studies of viral integration sites, the method should be generally useful to analyze DNA sequences either upstream or downstream from a known sequence.     

A polymerase chain reaction mediated by a single primer: cloning of genomic sequences adjacent to a serotonin receptor protein coding region.

Under appropriate conditions, specific double-stranded DNA product was generated after amplification of genomic DNA sequences in a polymerase chain-like reaction that contained only a single primer. This type of amplification reaction was performed with a variety of primers and substrate DNAs. In addition to nonspecific heterogeneous products, 5 of 11 primers reproducibly directed synthesis of double-stranded DNA that corresponded to the region of the template that contained the authentic primer annealing site. Three of these amplified products were cloned and their ends were sequenced. All three contained a copy of the primer at both 5' ends, and the position of one of the primers represented the authentic primer binding site. In each case, the location of the second copy of the primer indicated that it had initially hybridized to a partially homologous sequence in the template DNA. This single primer reaction makes it possible to amplify and clone a DNA region of unknown sequence that is adjacent to a known DNA sequence. One of the single primer reaction products described here included sequence to the 5' side of the coding region of a serotonin receptor gene that contained a functional promoter.     

Affinity generation of single-stranded DNA for dideoxy sequencing following the polymerase chain reaction

A method to rapidly generate single stranded DNA for dideoxy sequencing following the polymerase chain reaction is described. By incorporating biotin in one of the amplification primers, we are able to physically separate the two DNA strands produced in the polymerase chain reaction. After amplification, the mixture is passed through a column containing streptavidin agarose. The strand produced by the biotinylated primer is bound in this matrix. The unbiotinylated strand is eluted with 0.2 N NaOH and sequenced by the dideoxy method. This method was utilized to sequence mitochondrial DNA from crude genomic DNA and to determine the sequences of four clones containing human mitochondrial DNA as a test of its accuracy. The use of biotin-facilitated separation permitted us to amplify and sequence DNA samples in a single day.     

Sequencing of simple sequence repeat anchored polymerase chain reaction amplification products of Biomphalaria glabrata

Simple sequence repeat anchored polymerase chain reaction amplification (SSR-PCR) is a genetic typing technique based on primers anchored at the 5' or 3' ends of microsatellites, at high primer annealing temperatures. This technique has already been used in studies of genetic variability of several organisms, using different primer designs. In order to conduct a detailed study of the SSR-PCR genomic targets, we cloned and sequenced 20 unique amplification products of two commonly used primers, CAA(CT)6 and (CA)8RY, using Biomphalaria glabrata genomic DNA as template. The sequences obtained were novel B. glabrata genomic sequences. It was observed that 15 clones contained microsatellites between priming sites. Out of 40 clones, seven contained complex sequence repetitions. One of the repeats that appeared in six of the amplified fragments generated a single band in Southern analysis, indicating that the sequence was not widespread in the genome. Most of the annealing sites for the CAA(CT)6 primer contained only the six repeats found within the primer sequence. In conclusion, SSR-PCR is a useful genotyping technique. However, the premise of the SSR-PCR technique, verified with the CAA(CT)6 primer, could not be supported since the amplification products did not result necessarily from microsatellite loci amplification.     

Sequence analysis of the 5' non coding region of Turkish HCV isolates: implications for PCR diagnosis

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a positive-strand RNA virus related to pestiviruses and flaviviruses. The 5' noncoding region (NCR) of the virus genome consists of 324-341 nucleotides and is generally highly conserved among different HCV isolates which has made this region the choice for primer selection in amplification of HCV sequences by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In this study, we report the partial nucleotide sequences of the 5'-NCR from type 1a (n = 4), type 1b (n = 6) and type 4 (n = 1) Turkish HCV isolates. Sequence information was obtained by direct sequencing of RT-PCR product using biotinylated primers and single strands were sequenced using T7 DNA polymerase after binding to streptavidin coated magnetic beads. In comparison to prototype type 1a consensus sequence, all type 1b sequences had A-G substitution at position - 99. Nucleotid changes from the prototype 1a sequence were found in 12 of the 174 nucleotide positions. The most variable domain spans 51 nucleotides (positions - 167 to - 117) where nine polymorphic sites were identified. Although the nucleotide sequence of the 5'-noncoding region is highly conserved there are type-specific polymorphic sites within this region that has to be taken into consideration in the design of oligonucleotide primers for reliable amplification of sequences from different HCV genotypes.     

Genetic basis of enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR fingerprint pattern in Sinorhizobium meliloti and identification of S. meliloti employing PCR primers derived from an ERIC-PCR fragment

The enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR method was employed to generate genomic amplification products of Sinorhizobium meliloti strain 2011. Eleven distinctive PCR fragments obtained in PCR reactions by using the ERIC2 primer were cloned and their partial or complete nucleotide sequences established. DNA sequences that extended past the ERIC2 primer region were not conserved among the 11 PCR fragments and showed no sequence similarity to the enterobacterial ERIC consensus sequence. Thus, repetitive ERIC or ERIC-like sequences seem not to be an integral part of the S. meliloti genome. An amplification product of S. meliloti 2011 was identified which was present in S. meliloti strains but absent in other rhizobial species. Based on the nucleotide sequence information, a pair of PCR primers was designed and used for PCR amplification of sequences of S. meliloti laboratory strains 2011, L5–30, AK631 and 102F34. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the amplification products revealed a 100% DNA sequence conservation. Database searches showed that the DNA fragment putatively encodes the C-terminal part of a protein displaying similarity to 2-hydroxyacid dehydrogenases of various organisms. The newly designed PCR primers should be useful for the rapid identification of S. meliloti isolates. Received: 17 February 1999 / Accepted: 9 April 1999     

A PCR-based test for the presence of endogenous virus gene evA in chickens

An endogenous virus, denoted ev A, is present at high frequency in all brown egg layer lines. Using inverse polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the viral LTR regions, products were obtained containing cellular sequences 5' and 3' to the viral insertion point. PCR of chicken genomic DNA was carried out, using primers chosen from the 5' and 3' cellular sequences and a primer chosen from either the U3 or U5 portions of the viral LTR. Amplification of DNA from birds that did not carry ev A with the primer triplets always gave a single 364bp reaction product, interpreted as representing the flank-to-flank amplification product. Amplification of DNA from known homozygous or heterozygous ev A carriers, with the same primer triplets, always gave both the expected junction product and 364bp product. Therefore, these primer sequences can be used to distinguish ev A carriers from non-carriers but cannot distinguish between homozygous and heterozygous ev A carriers.     

Development of reliable PCR-based markers linked to downy mildew resistance genes in lettuce

Summary Sequence characterized amplified regions (SCARs) were derived from eight random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers linked to disease resistance genes in lettuce. SCARs are PCR-based markers that represent single, genetically defined loci that are identified by PCR amplification of genomic DNA with pairs of specific oligonucleotide primers; they may contain high-copy, dispersed genomic sequences within the amplified region. Amplified RAPD products were cloned and sequenced. The sequence was used to design 24-mer oligonucleotide primers for each end. All pairs of SCAR primers resulted in the amplification of single major bands the same size as the RAPD fragment cloned. Polymorphism was either retained as the presence or absence of amplification of the band or appeared as length polymorphisms that converted dominant RAPD loci into codominant SCAR markers. This study provided information on the molecular basis of RAPD markers. The amplified fragment contained no obvious repeated sequences beyond the primer sequence. Five out of eight pairs of SCAR primers amplified an alternate allele from both parents of the mapping population; therefore, the original RAPD polymorphism was likely due to mismatch at the primer sites.     

Multiple methods for the identification of polymorphic simple sequence repeats (SSRs) in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

Simple sequence repeats (SSRs), also known as microsatellites, are highly variable DNA sequences that can be used as markers for the genetic analysis of plants. Three approaches were followed for the development of PCR primers for the amplification of DNA fragments containing SSRs from sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]: a search for sorghum SSRs in public DNA databases; the use of SSR-specific primers developed in the Poaceae species maize (Zea mays L.) and seashore paspalum grass (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz); and the screening of sorghum genomic libraries by hybridization with SSR oligonucleotides. A total of 49 sorghum SSR-specific PCR primer pairs (two designed from GenBank SSR-containing sequences and 47 from the sequences of genomic clones) were screened on a panel of 17 sorghum and one maize accession. Ten primer pairs from paspalum and 90 from maize were also screened for polymorphism in sorghum. Length polymorphisms among amplification products were detected with 15 of these primer pairs, yielding diversity values ranging from 0.2 to 0.8 with an average diversity of 0.56. These primer pairs are now available for use as markers in crop improvement and conservation efforts.     

Molecular characteristics of chalcone synthase gene families from two cotton species using the polymerase chain reaction]

Using partial sequence data from a genomic clone and the fact of evolutionary conservation of chalcone synthase genes, two primers, corresponding to C-terminal peptides GGAACTCCCTTTTCTGGATAGCTCACC and CCTGGTCCGAACCCAAACAGGACGCCCC, were used to amplify, via polymerase chain reaction, genomic sequences from two Gossypium species, a diploid Gossypium herbaceum, and a tetraploid Gossypium hirsutum cv. 108F. Amplified DNA was separated into individual sequences by cloning into an M13 vector. Six different sequences were identified in each species. From each set of six, one sequence was found to be identical to the genomic sequence, which we have isolated from a subgenomic library of 108F DNA in lambda NM1149. Comparison of other sequences has allowed to find another pair of identical sequences, as well as to get an evidence, that the set isolated from the tetraploid cotton contained preferentially members of only one of the two subfamilies, probably due to primer specificity in amplification reaction. Comparison of specific amino acid substitutions in homologous sequences of cotton, peanut and soybean also suggested that all of the sequences isolated from cotton are more likely to code for chalcone synthase, that for a similar enzyme resveratrol synthetase.     

IRAP and REMAP for retrotransposon-based genotyping and fingerprinting

Retrotransposons can be used as markers because their integration creates new joints between genomic DNA and their conserved ends. To detect polymorphisms for retrotransposon insertion, marker systems generally rely on PCR amplification between these ends and some component of flanking genomic DNA. We have developed two methods, retrotransposon-microsatellite amplified polymorphism (REMAP) analysis and inter-retrotransposon amplified polymorphism (IRAP) analysis, that require neither restriction enzyme digestion nor ligation to generate the marker bands. The IRAP products are generated from two nearby retrotransposons using outward-facing primers. In REMAP, amplification between retrotransposons proximal to simple sequence repeats (microsatellites) produces the marker bands. Here, we describe protocols for the IRAP and REMAP techniques, including methods for PCR amplification with a single primer or with two primers and for agarose gel electrophoresis of the product using optimal electrophoresis buffers and conditions. This protocol can be completed in 1-2 d.     

Little evidence of HLA-G mRNA polymorphism in Caucasian or Afro-Caribbean populations.

HLA-G is a nonclassical class I MHC molecule of unknown function expressed on human trophoblast. The level of polymorphism at the HLA-G locus is of considerable importance, since the paternally inherited gene product is exposed to the maternal immune system during pregnancy. However, previous studies of HLA-G polymorphism using genomic DNA samples have produced conflicting results. Our aim was to investigate polymorphism in trophoblast HLA-G mRNA from pregnancies in ten Caucasian and twelve Afro-Caribbean women by RT-PCR. A similar PCR protocol was also applied to umbilical cord blood genomic DNA from two Caucasian and two Afro-Caribbean neonates. Caucasian cDNA yielded only two different sequences: G*01011, and one containing a previously reported synonymous substitution. Afro-Caribbean samples yielded these sequences as well as one previously reported conservative (leucine-to-isoleucine) substitution. PCR amplification from genomic DNA samples from both populations using previously published primer pairs generated sequences containing multiple substitutions, many of which were nonsynonymous. More than two sequences were produced from genomic DNA from each individual. In contrast, amplification from the same genomic DNA using new primers complementary to exons of the HLA-G gene yielded the same few sequences generated from cDNA. These results suggest that polymorphism at the HLA-G locus is extremely limited in Caucasian and Afro-Caribbean populations. This suggests that spurious polymorphism has been reported in African Americans due to the use of intron-complementary PCR primers on genomic DNA samples. The monomorphic nature of HLA-G may allow trophoblast to carry out the immunological functions of class I-bearing tissues without compromising successful pregnancy.     

Detection and Identification of Brenneria nigrifluens, the Causal Agent of the Shallow Bark Canker of Walnut by, PCR Amplification

A 1 kb DNA band from strains of Brenneria nigrifluens, as shown by amplification of their genomic DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using minisatellite primer designed on the minisatellite sequence of the M13 phage, was isolated, cloned and sequenced. Specific oligonucleotides (F1–C3) were selected into this 1 kb DNA sequence and used in a PCR assay to detect and identify strains of B. nigrifluens . Several strains of B. nigrifluens were assessed with F1–C3 primers producing a specific band of approximately 250 bp pairs in length. This target was successfully amplified from purified genomic DNA, from bacterial culture and directly from infected walnut bark tissue. No amplification was obtained when the PCR assay was performed on other plant-pathogenic species from the following genera Brenneria, Erwinia, Agrobacterium, Pseudomonas, Ralstonia, Pectobacterium, Xanthomonas and from walnut-associated bacteria, indicating the specificity of these primers. The PCR assay with the primers described here provides a rapid, specific and sensitive diagnostic method for B. nigrifluens and a useful tool for epidemiological studies.     

猪FGL2基因cDNA末端序列检测及结构分析

检测猪FGL2基因cDNA末端序列并对该基因结构初步分析。α-32P dCTP放射性同位素标记cDNA探针筛选猪基因组DNA文库;cDNA末端快速扩增(rapid amplification of cDNA end,RACE)。以猪正常小肠及心脏组织提取新鲜总RNA,反转录后作为模板,设计基因特异性引物,采用Advantage 2 聚合酶混合物进行PCR扩增;依据猪与人FGL2基因3′端已知同源序列设计PCR上游引物,以人FGL2基因3′末端序列设计下游引物,以猪基因组DNA为模板采用Advantage 2 聚合酶混合物进行PCR反应;PCR载体重组质粒DNA亚克隆扩增。同位素探针未能筛选到特异阳性克隆,RACE反应检测到特异性转录起始位置及第一个转录终止位置,但仍未检测到第二个转录终止位置。猪基因组DNA行PCR扩增成功检测到猪FGL2基因3′末端未知序列及第二个转录终止位置。