土壤微生物总DNA提取方法的优化

【目的】土壤中未培养微生物约占总量的99%,这就意味着绝大多数微生物资源还未得到开发和利用。本研究通过优化土壤微生物总DNA的提取方法,获得较高质量的DNA,为后期研究土壤微生物的多样性及构建大插入片段的宏基因组文库奠定基础。【方法】通过综合比较已报道的微生物DNA提取方法的优缺点,我们设计出一种新的提取方案。对提取过程中的几个关键步骤进行了优化,包括联合使用SDS-CTAB和溶菌酶一起来破细胞,利用氯仿除蛋白,使用PVPP柱纯化DNA等。比较分析了优化后的方法和3种已报道方法所获得的土壤总DNA的产量、纯度及片段大小。【结果】优化后的方法所获得的土壤DNA质量明显有所提高:每克土壤最高能提取95μg DNA,A260/A280和A260/A230比值更接近理想水平,PCR扩增能够得到明显的目标条带,DNA片段最大能达到100 kb左右。【结论】通过比较分析,最终确立了一种较理想的土壤微生物总DNA提取方法,为更好地开发利用土壤未培养微生物资源提供了有力工具。     

A method to size DNA fragments from 50 to 800 bp on a DNA analyser

We present a method to size DNA fragments from 50 to 800 bp on a DNA analyser using an alternative size standard (X‐Rhodamine MapMarker 1000) run on a capillary electrophoresis system (Applied Biosystem's 3730 DNA Analyser). This method avoids several limitations imposed by manufacturer‐developed size standards, instruments and software and offers a more robust approach to conducting DNA size fragment analyses.     

Specific terminal labeling of DNA molecules

We report a simple method to directly label or modify a specific terminus of linear DNA molecules. The method is based upon our finding that a presumably triple-stranded structure by RecA-mediated formation at the terminus formed with deoxyoligonucleotides, whose sequence is complementary to the 5' terminus of one of the strands of a double-stranded DNA molecule, is quite stable and can serve as a template for DNA polymerase reaction, with the nucleotides being incorporated by an exchange reaction. This novel type of nucleotide incorporation has made it possible to label a specific terminus of target double-stranded DNA molecules by a direct means (without amplification) regardless of its molecular size, a procedure previously unavailable. As an application, we show that large DNA molecules can be fixed to a solid support in a specific orientation, thus being utilized for various analytical purposes of DNA molecules.     

Linkage analysis by two-dimensional DNA typing.

In two-dimensional (2-D) DNA typing, genomic DNA fragments are separated, first according to size by electrophoresis in a neutral polyacrylamide gel and second according to sequence by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, followed by hybridization analysis using micro- and minisatellite core probes. The 2-D DNA typing method generates a large amount of information on polymorphic loci per gel. Here we demonstrate the potential usefulness of 2-D DNA typing in an empirical linkage study on the red factor in cattle, and we show an example of the 2-D DNA typing analysis of a human pedigree. The power efficiency of 2-D DNA typing in general is compared with that of single-locus typing by simulation. The results indicate that, although 2-D DNA typing is very efficient in generating data on polymorphic loci, its power to detect linkage is lower than single-locus typing, because it is not obvious whether a spot represents the presence of one or two alleles. It is possible to compensate for this lower informativeness by increasing the sample size. Genome scanning by 2-D DNA typing has the potential to be more efficient than current genotyping methods in scoring polymorphic loci. Hence, it could become a method of choice in mapping genetic traits in humans and animals.     

Quantitative and rapid DNA detection by laser transmission spectroscopy

Laser transmission spectroscopy (LTS) is a quantitative and rapid in vitro technique for measuring the size, shape, and number of nanoparticles in suspension. Here we report on the application of LTS as a novel detection method for species-specific DNA where the presence of one invasive species was differentiated from a closely related invasive sister species. The method employs carboxylated polystyrene nanoparticles functionalized with short DNA fragments that are complimentary to a specific target DNA sequence. In solution, the DNA strands containing targets bind to the tags resulting in a sizable increase in the nanoparticle diameter, which is rapidly and quantitatively measured using LTS. DNA strands that do not contain the target sequence do not bind and produce no size change of the carboxylated beads. The results show that LTS has the potential to become a quantitative and rapid DNA detection method suitable for many real-world applications.     

An efficient purification and fractionation of genomic DNA from soil by modified troughing method

AIMS: The aim of this study was to utilize a modified troughing method for purification of large genomic DNA obtained from microbiota in natural environment and for fractionation of genomic DNA into many size ranges that facilitates construction of metagenomic library. METHODS AND RESULTS: Genomic DNA extracted from soil or termite gut was purified by the modified troughing method which utilized gel electrophoresis in the presence of 30% PEG8000. The method performed better than various purification kits and allowed no significant loss in the amount of DNA recovered. In addition, the efficiency of the modified troughing method for DNA size fractionation was investigated. DNA size fractionation was achieved with repetitive rounds of electrophoresis and DNA collection to obtain DNA with many size ranges. CONCLUSIONS: The modified troughing method is a simple and efficient method for purification of genomic DNA and for DNA size fractionation. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The modified troughing method is a straightforward and inexpensive technique readily available for anyone working with environmental genomic DNA. It facilitates cloning of genomic DNA and enhances rapid discovery of useful bioactive compounds from microbial resources.     

Thiol-induced fragmentation of chromosomal DNA]

Supramolecular complexes of DNA (SC DNA) were isolated from loach sperm, loach erythrocytes and hen erythrocytes by the phenol method. By the use of UV-sedimentation on neutral 5-20% sucrose gradient, we studied the effect of 2-mercaptoethanol (ME), dithiothreitol (DTT) and NaBH4 on SC DNA at different pH and long-time incubation (5 and 10 days). It appeared that ME treatment at pH 4.4 fragmented SC DNA of three objects into subunits of size 5 x 10(5)D. Incubation with DTT at pH 8 in the presence of EDTA resulted in subunits of size 1-2 x 10(7)D. However, NaBH4 at pH 8 failed to induce fragmentation of SC DNA. It is shown that ME-induced at pH 4.4 fragmentation is accompanied by a decrease in hyperchromatic effect of subunits, indicating the presence of "sticky" ends. Thus, ME-induced fragmentation of SC DNA results from a "clayting" double-strand break, involving, on an average, 180 bp.     

Sizing of single fluorescently stained DNA fragments by scanning microscopy

We describe an approach to determine DNA fragment sizes based on the fluorescence detection of single adsorbed fragments on specifically coated glass cover slips. The brightness of single fragments stained with the DNA bisintercalation dye TOTO-1 is determined by scanning the surface with a confocal microscope. The brightness of adsorbed fragments is found to be proportional to the fragment length. The method needs only minute amount of DNA, beyond inexpensive and easily available surface coatings, like poly-L-lysine, 3-aminoproyltriethoxysilane and polyornithine, are utilizable. We performed DNA-sizing of fragment lengths between 2 and 14 kb. Further, we resolved the size distribution before and after an enzymatic restriction digest. At this a separation of buffers or enzymes was unnecessary. DNA sizes were determined within an uncertainty of 7-14%. The proposed method is straightforward and can be applied to standardized microtiter plates.     

Kilo-sequencing: an ordered strategy for rapid DNA sequence data acquisition

A strategy for rapid DNA sequence acquisition in an ordered, nonrandom manner, while retaining all of the conveniences of the dideoxy method with M13 transducing phage DNA template, is described. Target DNA 3 to 14 kb in size can be stably carried by our M13 vectors. Suitable targets are stretches of DNA which lack an enzyme recognition site which is unique on our cloning vectors and adjacent to the sequencing primer; current sites that are so useful when lacking are Pst, Xba, HindIII, BglII, EcoRI. By an in vitro procedure, we cut RF DNA once randomly and once specifically, to create thousands of deletions which start at the unique restriction site adjacent to the dideoxy sequencing primer and extend various distances across the target DNA. Phage carrying a desired size of deletions, whose DNA as template will give rise to DNA sequence data in a desired location along the target DNA, may be purified by electrophoresis alive on agarose gels. Phage running in the same location on the agarose gel thus conveniently give rise to nucleotide sequence data from the same kilobase of target DNA.     

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) dispensing of nanoliter DNA droplets for microarrays

In the present paper, we first demonstrated the possibility of electrohydrodynamic (EHD) dispensing method for preparing nanoliter probe DNA droplets on surfaces in DNA microarrays. To study the effect of an electric field on the dynamic behavior of pendent DNA droplet, visualization experiments with three kinds of electrode shapes are performed. In the early stage of droplet dispensing, it is shown that applied electric field assists a gravitational force exerted on DNA droplet. The pendent droplet is elongated in the parallel direction of applied electric field. However, after making fluid bridge between electrodes, it is shown that the electric force accelerates the capillary breaking of droplet by assisting a surface tension force exerted on droplet surface. Specifically, nanoliter dispensing volume (2 nL) is obtained in the needle-type electrode configuration. In addition, for the case of hydrophobic electrode surface, it is shown that the dispensing volume and spot size are remarkably decreased. Under the high relative humidity condition, it is observed that spot size is rapidly increased because of reduction in evaporation rate on droplet surface during the dispensing procedure. On the other hand, it is obtained that the spot size is not changed significantly in the wide range of DNA concentration from 1 to 10,000 nM. To monitor the influence of high electric voltage on DNA stability, we prepared a silicon-based chip with five capture probes for pathogens related with respiratory infectious diseases by EHD dispensing method. From the examination, it is clearly confirmed that pathogens are detected and the effective signal levels of pathogenic bacteria after hybridization are retained. Consequently, it is found that EHD dispensing method can be used to make cost-effective DNA microarrays with no thermal and electrical influences on DNA properties.     

Cost-effective method to synthesize a fluorescent internal DNA standard for automated fragment sizing.

We describe a simple and cost-effective method for the synthesis of an internal fluorescently labeled DNA standard for fragment sizing using an automated DNA sequencer. A set of primer pairs labeled with ROX was developed to amplify 12 DNA fragments, 58-417 bp, derived from a conserved region of plant chloroplast DNA. These amplified fragments were mixed together, constituting a fluorescent internal DNA size marker. The precision of the size standard was evaluated by estimating the size of 20 alleles that were amplified at four dinucleotide microsatellite loci with the synthesized size standard and the commercial internal sizing standard, GeneScan Rox500. A number of intra-gel and inter-gel comparisons were run, and an analysis of variance was carried out. No significant difference was observed between the size estimates obtained with the synthesized DNA standard and the commercial standard. This facile and general PCR-based method for the synthesis of internal standards allows for significant savings in the implementation of large genotyping experiments using microsatellite or AFLP markers.     

Computational analysis of DNA replicases in double-stranded DNA viruses: relationship with the genome size

Genome duplication in free-living cellular organisms is performed by DNA replicases that always include a DNA polymerase, a DNA sliding clamp and a clamp loader. What are the evolutionary solutions for DNA replicases associated with smaller genomes? Are there some general principles? To address these questions we analyzed DNA replicases of double-stranded (ds) DNA viruses. In the process we discovered highly divergent B-family DNA polymerases in phiKZ-like phages and remote sliding clamp homologs in Ascoviridae family and Ma-LMM01 phage. The analysis revealed a clear dependency between DNA replicase components and the viral genome size. As the genome size increases, viruses universally encode their own DNA polymerases and frequently have homologs of DNA sliding clamps, which sometimes are accompanied by clamp loader subunits. This pattern is highly non-random. The absence of sliding clamps in large viral genomes usually coincides with the presence of atypical polymerases. Meanwhile, sliding clamp homologs, not accompanied by clamp loaders, have an elevated positive electrostatic potential, characteristic of non-ring viral processivity factors that bind the DNA directly. Unexpectedly, we found that similar electrostatic properties are shared by the eukaryotic 9-1-1 clamp subunits, Hus1 and, to a lesser extent, Rad9, also suggesting the possibility of direct DNA binding.     

A simple DNA stretching method for fluorescence imaging of single DNA molecules

Stretching or aligning DNA molecules onto a surface by means of molecular combing techniques is one of the critical steps in single DNA molecule analysis. However, many of the current studies have focused on λ-DNA, or other large DNA molecules. There are very few studies on stretching methodologies for DNA molecules generated via PCR (typically smaller than 20 kb). Here we describe a simple method of stretching DNA molecules up to 18 kb in size on a modified glass surface. The very low background fluorescence allows efficient detection of single fluorescent dye labels incorporated into the stretched DNA molecules.     

qPCR-based mitochondrial DNA quantification: influence of template DNA fragmentation on accuracy

Real-time PCR (qPCR) is the method of choice for quantification of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) by relative comparison of a nuclear to a mitochondrial locus. Quantitative abnormal mtDNA content is indicative of mitochondrial disorders and mostly confines in a tissue-specific manner. Thus handling of degradation-prone bioptic material is inevitable. We established a serial qPCR assay based on increasing amplicon size to measure degradation status of any DNA sample. Using this approach we can exclude erroneous mtDNA quantification due to degraded samples (e.g. long post-exicision time, autolytic processus, freeze-thaw cycles) and ensure abnormal DNA content measurements (e.g. depletion) in non-degraded patient material. By preparation of degraded DNA under controlled conditions using sonification and DNaseI digestion we show that erroneous quantification is due to the different preservation qualities of the nuclear and the mitochondrial genome. This disparate degradation of the two genomes results in over- or underestimation of mtDNA copy number in degraded samples. Moreover, as analysis of defined archival tissue would allow to precise the molecular pathomechanism of mitochondrial disorders presenting with abnormal mtDNA content, we compared fresh frozen (FF) with formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) skeletal muscle tissue of the same sample. By extrapolation of measured decay constants for nuclear DNA (λnDNA) and mtDNA (λmtDNA) we present an approach to possibly correct measurements in degraded samples in the future. To our knowledge this is the first time different degradation impact of the two genomes is demonstrated and which evaluates systematically the impact of DNA degradation on quantification of mtDNA copy number.     

An enzymatic procedure for the purification of DNA restriction fragments without gel electrophoresis and ethidium bromide staining

A rapid and simple enzymatic method for the purification of a DNA fragment from a restriction digest was developed. The method is based on the two features of exonuclease III activity: digestion of DNA from a 3'-OH at blunt or recessed ends and failure to initiate digestion at DNA ends with four-base 3' overhangs. Herein, we establish a method for purification of a DNA restriction fragment without any physical separation via gel electrophoresis. The elimination of the ethidium bromide staining and ultraviolet irradiation steps should increase the quality and the safety of the purified DNA, a matter of major concern in the perspective of human gene therapy. In addition, since the method described does not use the visualization of the restriction fragments or their difference in size it can be used to purify a DNA fragment from a pool of DNA fragments with the same size even when microquantities of material are available.     

Macronuclear DNA of Tetrahymena thermophila exists as defined subchromosomal-sized molecules.

Using the method of orthogonal-field-alternation gel electrophoresis, we have resolved the macronuclear DNA of Tetrahymena thermophila into a series of distinct bands. Using electrode switching intervals ranging from 10 to 70 seconds we have resolved DNA bands ranging in size from about 21 kb up to and beyond the size of yeast chromosomes VII and XV. Hybridization of Southern blots from these gels to both unique and repetitive DNA sequences shows that the macronuclear genome of T. thermophila has a precise organization. The unique sequences tested each hybridize to only one band of macronuclear DNA and the hybridization patterns seem to be identical in several inbred strains examined.     

Micrococcal nuclease digestion study of spermidine-condensed DNA

Spermidine-condensed lambda DNA tertiary structures have been studied by micrococcal nuclease digestion. Broad but discrete DNA bands were observed in gel electrophoresis experiments of digests at sizes of: 1003 +/- 115 bp, 1972 +/- 190 bp and 3100 +/- 350 bp. These bands comprise an arithmetic series, similar to, but larger than, arithmetic DNA band series sizes we have observed previously in calf thymus and phi x-174 DNA condensates. The 1003bp monomer lambda DNA band size corresponds to wrapping B DNA once circumferentially about the toroidal-shaped tertiary structures, the predominant condensed structures present in these preparations, and is consistent with the measured electron microscopic dimensions for hydrated lambda DNA toruses previously presented. DNA fragment length stability was determined by release from the digested condensates. Fragments of 80-85bp and sizes below are thermodynamically unstable in the lambda DNA condensates. This fragment size agrees well with a recent determination of the cooperativity size in DNA condensates.     

Efficient DNA transfection in neuronal and astrocytic cell lines

We have studied different parameters for efficient DNA transfection in various cell types and with different size of the promoter. Here we report that the optimum condition for DNA transfection by electroporation is 350 V/960 microF for PC12, 450V/960 microF C6 cells, and 250 V/500 microF for COS-1 cells. For the human neuroblastoma (SK-N-SH) cells the optimum condition for DNA transfection is by the calcium phosphate method. In promoter mapping studies, a serial deletion approach is commonly used. To optimize transfection we have selected three DNA constructs that varied in size from 4.5 to 12.4 kilobases (kb). We measured the promoter activity of these constructs under conditions of 'equal amount', 'equimolar', and 'equimolar plus carrier DNA to make it equal amount'. We recommend that for comparative purpose, transfection should be carried out under 'equimolar condition' without a need to adjust the total amount of DNA by carrier DNA. Taken together, our results suggest that efficient methods for DNA transfection are important to study gene regulation by devising better ways to deliver DNA into the mammalian cells.     

A PCR-after-ligation method for cloning of multiple DNA inserts

Here we present a novel and simple PCR-after-ligation method for efficient assembly of multiple DNA inserts. After initial ligation of multiple inserts and vector, the ligation mixture is used as template for a PCR using a pair of primers flanking the cloning sites on the vector. The fragment with correct size is gel purified and inserted into the vector by conventional two-way ligation. With this method, a recombinant plasmid containing four DNA inserts was correctly constructed. As a control, all of the constructs obtained directly from DNA ligation were found to be self-ligation of the vector.     

pcD-awte候选疟疾DNA疫苗制备及其质量相关性分析

本实验室构建的疟疾DNA疫苗经动物试验表明具有很好的免疫原性,为申请临床试验,进行了制备工艺的研究。本研究将含pcD-awte质粒的大肠杆菌DH5α在发酵罐中发酵培养,碱裂解法粗提质粒,再依次通过Sepharose 6FF分子筛层析、Plasmidselect 亲硫吸附层析和Source 30Q离子交换层析精制获得质粒纯品,并对纯品进行质量分析。结果每升培养液可获得质粒纯品43.9mg,质量符合Ferreira等推荐的药用标准。