基于多重PCR的DNA Marker制备方法

报道了一种简便的制备分子量大小为100-1000bp DNA marker的方法,其原理是以一段特异的DNA片段为模板,设计PCR引物,采用多重PCR的方法一次扩增100-1000bp系列条带,酚/氯仿抽提,乙醇沉淀,即可得到条带清晰的DNA marker。     

Pyrene-labeled deoxyguanosine as a fluorescence sensor to discriminate single and double stranded DNA structures: Design of ends free molecular beacons

A novel fluorescent DNA probe containing pyrene-labeled C8 alkylamino-substituted 2′-deoxyguanosine was designed in order to discriminate single stranded and double stranded regions in DNA. This fluorescent sensor was used for the design of practically useful 3′- and 5′-ends free self-quenched molecular beacon (MB). Unique MB detectable by pyrene excimer fluorescence was also demonstrated.     

Microplate fluorescence assay for the quantification of double stranded DNA using SYBR Green I dye

A high-throughput, 96-well microplate fluorescence assay (MFA) was developed for DNA quantification using the double-stranded DNA-binding dye SYBR Green I. Samples mixed with SYBR Green I in the wells of a microtiter plate produced fluorescence in proportion with DNA concentration which was measured using a fluorescence plate reader. The performance characteristics of the assay were compared with spectrophotometric quantification based on ultraviolet absorption and the Hoefer DyNA Quant assay utilizing the fluorescent dye, Hoechst 33258. The MFA accurately quantified different types of DNA over a broad linear dynamic range of concentrations (0.25–2,500 pg/μl), and was not affected by a variety of contaminants in the assay mixture.     

Volumetric properties of the formation of double stranded DNA: a nearest-neighbor analysis

The kinetics of the helix-coil transition have been studied by performing UV-monitored melting and reannealing curves of DNA and analyzing the resultant hysteresis between these curves. The analysis assumes a single-step bimolecular transition with duplex formation defined as the forward reaction. Volume parameters of the helix-coil transition were obtained by measuring the pressure dependence of the rate constants from 5-200 MPa. The data were interpreted in terms of several possible nearest-neighbor models, ranging from one to eleven parameters. Twenty-four oligonucleotide duplexes 22 base pairs in length were used to solve for individual nearest-neighbor activation volumes and transition volumes. Statistically, the most valid fit of the volumetric data was obtained with a six-parameter model in which the directionality of the dinucleotide steps is not considered, for example, 5'AG/CT is the same as 5'GA/TC. The resultant transition volumes at 48 degrees C ranged from -7.1 +/- 0.8 mL/mol (GC/CG) to +2.9 +/- 0.3 mL/mol (AA/TT). The success of the six-parameter model suggests that the relative size of the nearest-neighbor dinucleotides is the most important factor determining the magnitude of the volumetric parameters. The finding that the magnitude of the volumetric parameters correlates with the change in the solvent accessible surface area of the bases during the helix-coil transition corroborates this hypothesis.     

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       

Comparing mono- and divalent DNA groove binding cyanine dyes -- binding geometries, dissociation rates, and fluorescence properties

The unsymmetrical cyanine dyes BOXTO-PRO and BOXTO-MEE were derived from the DNA groove binder BOXTO, by adding a positively charged or a non-ionic hydrophilic tail to BOXTO, respectively. The main objective was to obtain more efficient DNA probes, for instance in electrophoresis and microscopy, by slowing down the dissociation of BOXTO from DNA. The interactions with mixed sequence DNA was studied with fluorescence and absorbance spectroscopy, stopped-flow dissociation and gel electrophoresis. Both the derivatives are groove bound as BOXTO, and have similar fluorescence properties when bound to mixed sequence DNA in free solution. BOXTO-PRO exhibits a slower dissociation than BOXTO from DNA, whereas the dissociation rate for BOXTO-MEE is faster and, unexpectedly independent of the ionic strength. During gel electrophoresis both BOXTO-PRO and BOXTO-MEE exhibit a faster dissociation rate than BOXTO. Still, BOXTO-PRO seems to be a good alternative as DNA probe, especially for applications in free solution where the dissociation is slower than for the corresponding intercalator TOPRO-1.     

Intercalation of manganese-mefenamic acid complex into double stranded of calf thymus DNA

Abstract

The interaction of the [Mn(mef)₂(phen)H₂O] complex in which mef is mefenamic acid drug and phen is 1,10 phenanthrolin ligand with calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) was studied by using different spectroscopic methods, molecular docking and viscometery. The competitive fluorescence and UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy indicated that the complex interacted with ctDNA via intercalating binding mode with the binding constant of 1.16?×?10⁴ Lmol^?1. The thermodynamic studies showed that the reaction between the complex and ctDNA is exothermic. Furthermore, the complex induced changes in DNA viscosity. Circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD) was employed to measure the conformational changes of ctDNA in the presence of the complex and verified intercalation binding mode. The molecular modeling results illustrated that the complex interacted via intercalation by relative binding energy of ?28.45?kJ mol^?1.     

一种提高质粒DNA凝胶电泳检测灵敏度的方法

比较了凝胶电泳示检测质粒ＤＮＡ时不同激发波长对ＤＮＡ－ＥＢ荧光强度的影响,发现短波长激发光可增加ＤＮＡ的探测灵敏度。采用２６０ｎｍ作为激光光时可探测到少至０．７ｎｇ的线性ＤＮＡ。且在很广的ＤＮＡ的质量范围内,ＤＮＡ－ＥＢ荧光强度 与ＤＮＡ量或正比。以此改进方法检测电离辐射诱导的ＤＮＡ单、双链断裂岢得到与其它研究结果相一致的Ｇ（ＳＳＢ）和Ｇ（ＤＳＢ）值。     

Existing and emerging detection technologies for DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) finger printing, sequencing, bio- and analytical chips: a multidisciplinary development unifying molecular biology, chemical and electronics engineering

The current status and research trends of detection techniques for DNA-based analysis such as DNA finger printing, sequencing, biochips and allied fields are examined. An overview of main detectors is presented vis-à-vis these DNA operations. The biochip method is explained, the role of micro- and nanoelectronic technologies in biochip realization is highlighted, various optical and electrical detection principles employed in biochips are indicated, and the operational mechanisms of these detection devices are described. Although a diversity of biochips for diagnostic and therapeutic applications has been demonstrated in research laboratories worldwide, only some of these chips have entered the clinical market, and more chips are awaiting commercialization. The necessity of tagging is eliminated in refractive-index change based devices, but the basic flaw of indirect nature of most detection methodologies can only be overcome by generic and/or reagentless DNA sensors such as the conductance-based approach and the DNA-single electron transistor (DNA-SET) structure. Devices of the electrical detection-based category are expected to pave the pathway for the next-generation DNA chips. The review provides a comprehensive coverage of the detection technologies for DNA finger printing, sequencing and related techniques, encompassing a variety of methods from the primitive art to the state-of-the-art scenario as well as promising methods for the future.     

Detection of non-covalent interaction of single and double stranded DNA with peptides by MALDI-TOF

DNA-histone interaction facilitates packaging of huge amounts of DNA in the confined space of the nucleus. The importance of this interaction underscores the need for new analytical techniques to acquire a better understanding of nuclear dynamics. Electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry made it possible to investigate non-covalently-bound biopolymers. We are enlarging the scope of available analytical tools by studying non-covalent interaction between single and double stranded DNA and peptides with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. The interaction is an ionic one, between the negatively charged sugar-phosphate backbone of single stranded DNA and positively charged side chains of Arg- and Lys-rich peptides as demonstrated by Vertes' group¹ with the dipeptides Arg-Lys and His-His. We replicated Lecchi and Pannell's work,² which showed that double stranded DNA could be seen by MALDI using 6-aza-2-thiothymine (ATT) as matrix. We tried various peptides and found that as was demonstrated in DNA-histone interaction, a certain ratio and arrangement of basic residues was needed in order to generate ionic binding between DNA and peptide. We tested various single and double stranded DNA with the peptide of choice, and found that other variables such as pH value of solution, ionic strength, and matrix system did play a role. Proteins Suppl. 2:12–21, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

SYNTHESIS OF NOVEL PIPERIDINYL LINKER BASED ENERGY TRANSFER TERMINATORS AND THEIR POTENTIAL USE IN DNA SEQUENCING

Synthesis of novel piperidinyl linker based ET cassettes and terminators is described. These novel terminators are evaluated in the DNA sequencing experiments using thermostable DNA polymerase.     

Biotinylation of double stranded DNA after transamination

The bisulfite catalyzed transamination of cytidine and cytosine has been reported to be single strand specific, but local thermal instabilities of the DNA double helix, coupled with the extreme sensitivity of the Biotin-Avidin revelation methods, allows the random labelling of cytosines in d.s. DNA to detectable levels for those purposes where the overall label can be very low. We have evaluated the use of this reaction to prepare double stranded DNA molecules containing N4-aminoethyl-cytosine (4-aeC). After this step 4-aeC residues can be conjugated to biotinyl-n-hydroxysuccinimide ester yielding biotinylated DNA. This reaction allows the massive production of biotinylated probes. Labelled DNA can serve as molecular weight marker and positive control in Southern-blots. Moreover it can be useful in the study of DNA-protein interaction and in the isolation of d.s. DNA-binding proteins through chromatographic procedures.     

Discrimination of phosphorylated double stranded DNA by naphthalene diimide having zinc(II) dipicolylamine complexes

Discrimination of phosphomonoesters and phosphodiesters of DNA was attempted with naphthalene diimide carrying two zinc-dipicolylamine (Dpa) units (1). The binding constant of 1 for a self-complementary octanucleotide was 1.3 × 10⁶ M⁻¹, while the value for the phosphorylated counterpart was 4.8 × 10⁶ M⁻¹. This fourfold increase in the binding constant seems to stem from higher affinity of the terminal monophosphate over the phosphodiesters of DNA as the fourth ligand for the metal in 1. Likewise, the binding constant of 1 for DNase I-treated calf thymus DNA (average size 200 bp) was twice as large as that for untreated DNA (1 kb), possibly because the terminal phosphate groups are five times abundant in the former. These findings provide a clue to developing a system where phosphomonoesters generated upon DNA nicking are discriminated specifically from intact phosphodiesters.     

Fluorescent cyanine dyes for the quantification of low amounts of dsDNA

In this research six cyanine fluorophores for the quantification of dsDNA in the pg-ng range, without amplification, are compared under exactly identical conditions: EvaGreen, SYBR Green, PicoGreen, AccuClear, AccuBlue NextGen and YOYO-1. The fluorescence intensity as a function of the amount of dsDNA is measured at the optimal wavelengths for excitation and emission and for each dye the limit of detection and the response linearity at low levels of dsDNA are determined. No linear range was found for SYBR Green and YOYO-1 for pg-ng quantities of dsDNA. EvaGreen, PicoGreen, AccuClear and AccuBlue NextGen show good linearity in the pg-ng range. AccuClear exhibits the widest linear range of 3 pg–200 ng, whereas AccuBlue NextGen turned out to have the highest sensitivity of the tested dyes with a limit of detection of 50 pg.     

On-line melting of double-stranded DNA for analysis of single-stranded DNA using capillary electrophoresis

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a convenient, fast and non-radioactive method with possibilities for automatization. To analyse single-stranded DNA molecules in a more automated way, we developed a heating device to melt double-stranded DNA fragments in the capillary during electrophoresis. In this study we used this device to obtain single-stranded DNA, necessary for the detection of point mutations in DNA using the single-strand conformation polymorphism technique. Results show that double-stranded DNA molecules can be melted on-line into single-stranded DNA molecules, although not for 100%. In an attempt to find universal electrophoretic conditions for the analysis of single-stranded DNA, we investigated the influence of several parameters on the yield of single-stranded DNA molecules and on the resolution of the single-stranded DNA peaks. We demonstrate that this heating device is a technical adjustment of CE which contributes to more automated analyses of DNA fragments.     

Cleavage of double stranded plasmid DNA by lanthanide complexes

The use of free lanthanide ions and their complexes for plasmid DNA pBR322 and chromosomal DNA cleavage was studied. Plasmid pBR322 DNA was treated by lanthanide chlorides (Eu(3+), La(3+), Nd(3+), Pr(3+), Gd(3+)) in HEPES buffer (pH 7.0, 7.5 and 8.0) at 24, 37, 50, 63, and 76 degrees C. The formation of linear and nicked plasmid forms was investigated depending on the reaction conditions. Heterogeneous lanthanide complexes of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) immobilized on insoluble methacrylate support and iminodiacetic acid (IDA) immobilized on styrene support were used as catalysts plasmid for DNA pBR322 cleavage, too. The temperature of reaction mixture had substantial influence on cleavage rate. The precipitation of DNA occurred during the measurement of interactions between chromosomal DNA and La(3+) ions.     

Dynamics of double stranded DNA reptation from bacteriophage.

The dynamics of dsDNA release process from a phage head has been analyzed theoretically. The process was considered as dsDNA reptation through the phage tail. The driving force is assumed to be the decrease of the DNA globule free energy on its releasing from the head in the surrounding medium. The results of the equilibrium theory on an intraphage DNA globule were applied. Three possible sources of friction were examined. The first one is in the inner channel of the tail. The second is the friction of DNA segments in the whole globule volume, which is essential when the globule decondensation is a collective process, at simultaneous moving of all the turns (mechanism 1). The third is the globule friction with the capsid inner surface, that is most important when decondensation proceeds via the globule rotation as a whole spool (mechanism 2). Mechanism 1 would require a lot of time for ejection. Mechanism 2 would lead to different ejection dynamics of short- and long-tailed phages. Comparison of the theoretical results with the published experimental data argues in favor of mechanism 2.