Tri-nucleotide threading for parallel amplification of minute amounts of genomic DNA

Efforts to correlate genetic variations with phenotypic differences are intensifying due to the availability of high-density maps of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the development of high throughput scoring methods. These recent advances have led to an increased interest for improved multiplex preparations of genetic material to facilitate such whole genome analyses. Here we propose a strategy for the parallel amplification of polymorphic loci based on a reduced set of nucleotides. The technique denoted Tri-nucleotide Threading (TnT), allows SNPs to be amplified via controlled linear amplification followed by complete removal of the target material and subsequent amplification with a pair of universal primers. A dedicated software tool was developed for this purpose and variable positions in genes associated with different forms of cancer were analyzed using sub-nanogram amounts of starting material. The amplified fragments were then successfully scored using a microarray-based PrASE technique. The results of this study, in which 75 SNPs were analyzed, show that the TnT technique circumvents potential problems associated with multiplex amplification of SNPs from minute amounts of material. The technique is specific, sensitive and can be readily adapted to equipment and genotyping techniques used in other research laboratories without requiring changes to the preferred typing method.     

Isothermal amplification detection of nucleic acids by a double-nicked beacon

Isothermal and rapid amplification detection of nucleic acids is an important technology in environmental monitoring, foodborne pathogen detection, and point-of-care clinical diagnostics. Here we have developed a novel method of isothermal signal amplification for single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) detection. The ssDNA target could be used as an initiator, coupled with a double-nicked molecular beacon, to originate amplification cycles, achieving cascade signal amplification. In addition, the method showed good specificity and strong anti-jamming capability. Overall, it is a one-pot and isothermal strand displacement amplification method without the requirement of a stepwise procedure, which greatly simplifies the experimental procedure and decreases the probability of contamination of samples. With its advantages, the method would be very useful to detect nucleic acids in point-of-care or field use.     

Radiosensitivity ofEscherichia coli B bacteria containing different amounts of nucleic acids and proteins

Escherichia coli B bacteria cultivated under aerobic and anaerobic conditions were irradiated with X-rays at different phases of growth of the culture (at the outset and end of the logarithmic phase and in the stationary phase). Changes in the nucleic acid and protein content and in the number of nuclear equivalents per cell were determined in irradiated bacteria. The extrapolation number of the survival curves increased proportionately to the increase in the cell components. It was not in direct agreement with the increase in any of the individual components, however. The slope of the survival curves changed simultaneously with the extrapolation number, showing that radiosensitivity changes were probably of a complex character and that they might be the function of at least two factors, manifested as a change in the number and size of the targets (evaluated from the aspect of the target theory).     

Plant N-glycan profiling of minute amounts of material

Development of convenient strategies for identification of plant N-glycan profiles has been driven by the emergence of plants as an expression system for therapeutic proteins. In this article, we reinvestigated qualitative and quantitative aspects of plant N-glycan profiling. The extraction of plant proteins through a phenol/ammonium acetate procedure followed by deglycosylation with peptide N-glycosidase A (PNGase A) and coupling to 2-aminobenzamide provides an oligosaccharide preparation containing reduced amounts of contaminants from plant cell wall polysaccharides. Such a preparation was also suitable for accurate qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the N-glycan content by mass spectrometry. Combining these approaches allows the profiling to be carried out from as low as 500 mg of fresh leaf material. We also demonstrated that collision-induced dissociation (CID) mass spectrometry in negative mode of N-glycans harboring α(1,3)- or α(1,6)-fucose residue on the proximal GlcNAc leads to specific fragmentation patterns, thereby allowing the discrimination of plant N-glycans from those arising from mammalian contamination.     

Multiplex amplification of ancient DNA

This method is designed to assemble long, continuous DNA sequences using minimal amounts of fragmented ancient DNA as template. This is achieved by a two-step approach. In the first step, multiple fragments are simultaneously amplified in a single multiplex reaction. Subsequently, each of the generated fragments is amplified individually using a single primer pair, in a standard simplex (monoplex) PCR. The ability to amplify multiple fragments simultaneously in the first step allows the generation of large amounts of sequence from rare template DNA, whereas the second nested step increases specificity and decreases amplification of contaminating DNA. In contrast to current protocols using many template-consuming simplex PCRs, the method described allows amplification of several kilobases of sequence in just one reaction. It thus combines optimal template usage with a high specificity and can be performed within a day.     

Exponential amplification of nucleic acids: new diagnostics using DNA polymerases and RNA replicases

Recent developments in DNA and RNA amplification technology are enabling the design of ultra-sensitive diagnostic assays for infectious diseases. The leading amplification technology is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). An alternative approach, Q-beta amplification, also promises remarkable speed and precise quantification of assay results.