Isolation and characterization of human DNA in agarose block

Classic phenol-chloroform extraction of human DNA results in substantial shearing and low yield. Because DNA analysis in human genetic disorders needs relatively intact DNA, we modified the existing method and systematically analyzed the human DNA isolated from HeLa cells, leukocytes, amniocytes, and fibroblasts in agarose block and compared the results to those obtained by conventional phenol method. Our results showed that DNA isolated by the agarose method was higher in molecular weight, with minimal shearing as compared to the phenol method. Yield of DNA from the agarose method was substantially higher, almost twice that obtained by the phenol method. Restriction enzyme digestion of DNA from the agarose method indicated the usefulness of this DNA for restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis without further purification. DNA obtained by the agarose method was found to be more resistant to thermal degradation and more stable on long-term storage than that of phenol-extracted DNA.     

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.     

Seamless cloning and domain swapping of synthetic and complex DNA

The use of synthetic DNA can avoid problems that are sometimes encountered with conventional molecular biology techniques using DNA with high GC content, strong secondary structures, or repeat sequences. However, very complex DNA may still resist PCR and synthesis of DNA from oligonucleotides. In the method described here, separately synthesized DNA segments were seamlessly joined independently of the presence of restriction sites in the target DNA. This method allowed the reconstruction of complex DNA by concatenation of easily synthesized segments and permitted repeated swapping of segments, from a few nucleotides to large fragments of complex DNA for phenotypic analysis.     

Quantification of DNA strand breaks and abasic sites by oxime derivatization and accelerator mass spectrometry: application to gamma-radiation and peroxynitrite

We report a highly sensitive method to quantify abasic sites and deoxyribose oxidation products arising in damaged DNA. The method exploits the reaction of aldehyde- and ketone-containing deoxyribose oxidation products and abasic sites with [(14)C]methoxyamine to form stable oxime derivatives, as originally described by Talpaert-Borle and Liuzzi [Reaction of apurinic/apyrimidinic sites with [(14)C]methoxyamine. A method for the quantitative assay of AP sites in DNA, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 740 (1983) 410-416]. The sensitivity of the method was dramatically improved by the application of accelerator mass spectrometry to quantify the (14)C, with a limit of detection of 1 lesion in 10(6) nucleotides in 1 microg of DNA. The method was validated using DNA containing a defined quantity of abasic sites, with a >0.95 correlation between the quantities of abasic sites and those of methoxyamine labels. The original applications of this and similar oxyamine derivatization methods have assumed that abasic sites are the only aldehyde-containing DNA damage products. However, deoxyribose oxidation produces strand breaks and abasic sites containing a variety of degradation products with aldehyde and ketone moieties. To assess the utility of methoxyamine labeling for quantifying strand breaks and abasic sites, the method was applied to plasmid DNA treated with gamma-radiation and peroxynitrite. For gamma-radiation, there was a 0.99 correlation between the quantity of methoxyamine labels and the quantity of strand breaks and abasic sites determined by a plasmid nicking assay; the abasic sites comprised less than 10% of the radiation-induced DNA damage. Studies with peroxynitrite demonstrate that the method, in conjunction with DNA repair enzymes that remove damaged bases to produce aldehydic sugar residues or abasic sites, is also applicable to quantifying nucleobase lesions in addition to strand break products. Compared to other abasic site quantification techniques, the modified method offers the advantage of providing a straightforward and direct measurement of aldehyde- and ketone-containing strand breaks and abasic sites, with the potential for direct labeling in cells prior to DNA isolation.     

DNA extraction method with improved efficiency and specificity using DNA methyltransferase and "click" chemistry

In an attempt to develop an alternative method to extract DNA from complex samples with much improved sensitivity and efficiency, here we report a proof-of-concept work for a new DNA extraction method using DNA methyltransferase (Mtase) and "click" chemistry. According to our preliminary data, the method has improved the current methods by (i) employing a DNA-specific enzyme, TaqI DNA Mtase, for improved selectivity, and by (ii) capturing the DNA through covalent bond to the functionalized surface, enabling a broad range of treatments yielding the final sample DNA with minimal loss and higher purity such that it will be highly compatible with downstream analyses. By employing Mtase, a highly DNA specific and efficient enzyme, and click chemistry, we demonstrated that as little as 0.1 fg of λ-DNA (close to copy number 1) was captured on silica (Si)-based beads by forming a covalent bond between an azide group on the surface and the propargyl moiety on the DNA. This method holds promise in versatile applications where extraction of minute amounts of DNA plays critical roles such as basic and applied molecular biology research, bioforensic and biosecurity sciences, and state-of-the-art detection methods.     

煮沸裂解法和试剂盒法提取浸矿菌基因组DNA的比较

目的:在生物浸出中,微生物群落结构分析有着重要意义,而群落分析的基础是提取纯度高、损失少的基因组DNA。为了解决这一问题,本实验通过比较两种较常用的DNA提取方法,煮沸裂解法和试剂盒法,寻找一种灵敏、快速、经济实用的制备浸矿细菌基因组DNA的方法。方法:分别用煮沸裂解法和试剂盒法提取6种浸矿菌的基因组DNA,从所提取的基因组DNA浓度、纯度、回收率和对PCR扩增反应的影响方面比较了两种方法的提取效果;用两种方法来处理不同浓度梯度的一种菌,通过实时定量PCR来比较两种方法的灵敏性。结果:相同处理量(108个)的革兰氏阳性菌(1株)、革兰氏阴性菌(4株)、古菌(1株)经两种方法提取的基因组DNA差异较大,煮沸裂解法所得的6组基因组DNA更纯,其OD260/OD280的值更接近1.8-2.0(纯DNA的OD260/OD280在1.8-2.0之间),前者所提DNA回收率最大可达后者的16.7倍;煮沸裂解法只需较少菌(102个)便能让实时定量PCR检测到所提DNA模板浓度,比试剂盒法灵敏。结论:两种方法提取的基因组DNA均可用于后续的PCR扩增,此外,前者提取的DNA浓度随细菌浓度增加而呈线性增大,而后者随菌浓度增大,所提DNA量增加有限,因此,在生物浸出中微生物基因组DNA的提取可直接采用简单快速的煮沸提取法,为实验节约成本和时间。     

利用CTAB法和子囊孢子破壁法提取冬虫夏草菌DNA

通过CTAB法从冬虫夏草菌株和天然冬虫夏草不同部位提取DNA,并用PCR扩增进行验证,证明了CTAB法适合从冬虫夏草子座、菌核和冬虫夏草菌培养物中提取DNA。首次报道1种将子囊孢子破壁直接进行PCR扩增的方法,并比较了该方法和CTAB法在提取冬虫夏草DNA方面的差异。2种方法获得的DNA用于PCR扩增均能得到较好的结果。     

Recovery of DNA from soils and sediments

Experiments were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of two different methodological approaches for recovering DNA from soil and sediment bacterial communities: cell extraction followed by lysis and DNA recovery (cell extraction method) versus direct cell lysis and alkaline extraction to recover DNA (direct lysis method). Efficiency of DNA recovery by each method was determined by spectrophotometric absorbance and using a tritiated thymidine tracer. With both procedures, the use of polyvinylpolypyrrolidone was important for the removal of humic compounds to improve the purity of the recovered DNA; without extensive purification, various restriction enzymes failed to cut added target DNA. Milligram quantities of high-purity DNA were recovered from 100-g samples of both soils and sediments by the direct lysis method, which was a greater than 1-order-of-magnitude-higher yield than by the cell extraction method. The ratio of labeled thymidine to total DNA, however, was higher in the DNA recovered by the cell extraction method. than by the direct lysis method, suggesting that the DNA recovered by the cell extraction method came primarily from active bacterial cells, whereas that recovered by the direct lysis method may have contained DNA from other sources.     

快速、高效的羊绒羊毛织品DNA提取方法的建立

目的：建立一种快速、高效的羊绒羊毛纺织品DNA提取的方法。方法：采用chelex-100法的3种处理、试剂盒法分别提取羊绒羊毛织品的DNA,用18S rDNA片段、山羊和绵羊源性成分PCR扩增结果来比较提取效果。结果：试剂盒法提取DNA的效果优于chelex-100法,整个提取过程约需2h。9种供试材料均提取到DNA,且含有山羊和/或绵羊源性成分,与显微镜观察结果的符合率为100%。结论：建立的试剂盒法是一种快速、高效的适用于羊绒羊毛织品DNA提取的方法,为应用分子生物学方法鉴别山羊绒和绵羊毛奠定了基础。     

Recovery of DNA from soils and sediments.

Experiments were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of two different methodological approaches for recovering DNA from soil and sediment bacterial communities: cell extraction followed by lysis and DNA recovery (cell extraction method) versus direct cell lysis and alkaline extraction to recover DNA (direct lysis method). Efficiency of DNA recovery by each method was determined by spectrophotometric absorbance and using a tritiated thymidine tracer. With both procedures, the use of polyvinylpolypyrrolidone was important for the removal of humic compounds to improve the purity of the recovered DNA; without extensive purification, various restriction enzymes failed to cut added target DNA. Milligram quantities of high-purity DNA were recovered from 100-g samples of both soils and sediments by the direct lysis method, which was a greater than 1-order-of-magnitude-higher yield than by the cell extraction method. The ratio of labeled thymidine to total DNA, however, was higher in the DNA recovered by the cell extraction method. than by the direct lysis method, suggesting that the DNA recovered by the cell extraction method came primarily from active bacterial cells, whereas that recovered by the direct lysis method may have contained DNA from other sources.     

High-quality genomic DNA extraction from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples deparaffinized using mineral oil

Extracting DNA from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue remains a challenge, despite numerous attempts to develop a more effective method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) success rates with DNA extracted using current methods remain low. We extracted DNA from 140 long-term archived FFPE samples using a simple but effective deparaffinization method, removing the wax with mineral oil, and a commercially available DNA extraction kit. DNA quality was subsequently tested in a genotyping experiment with 14 microsatellite markers. High-quality DNA was obtained with a mean PCR success rate of 97% (range: 88–100%) across markers. The results suggested that DNA extracted using this novel method is likely to be suitable for genetic studies involving DNA fragments <200 bp.     

体重差异双胎新生儿粪便样本DNA提取的优化及分析

目的 优化新生儿粪便样本DNA提取方法,提取及分析体重差异双胎新生儿粪便样本DNA。方法 从7种DNA提取试剂盒方法中选择对成人粪便样本DNA提取效果最佳的QIAamp DNA Stool Mini Kit法为基准方法,通过钢珠打断前处理、DNA吸附柱收集全部裂解液上清和洗脱液重复洗脱的优化,建立了用于新生儿粪便样本DNA的提取方法。结果 该优化方法用于婴儿（出生1个月）粪便样本,结果显示DNA提取浓度平均提高了2.4倍。用于48对双胞胎新生儿出生第1天和第3天粪便样本DNA的提取,经酶标仪及PCR扩增检测,结果显示出生第1天粪便样本DNA提取率为32%,出生3天提取率达83%。RT-PCR显示新生儿第1天到第3天肠道微生物量呈现增长趋势。结论 优化的QIAamp DNA Stool Mini Kit法适用于新生儿粪便样本DNA的快速提取,为后续扩增子高通量测序和研究体重差异双胎新生儿肠道菌群构成规律奠定基础。     

Silver staining of native and denatured eucaryotic DNA in agarose gels

A modified method of silver staining for native and denatured eucaryotic DNA in 1% agarose gel is described. This method is at least fivefold more sensitive than ethidium bromide staining, with a detection limit of 2.5 ng for total DNA. The calibration curve is linear within the range 5-30 ng of single-stranded and double-stranded DNA. This method is especially advantageous for electrophoretic assessment of DNA molecular weights.     

A convenient and robust method for construction of combinatorial and random mutant libraries

Here we describe a convenient and robust ligase-independent method for construction of combinatorial and random mutant libraries. The homologous genes flanked by plasmid-derived DNA sequences are fragmented, and the random fragments are reassembled in a self-priming polymerase reaction to obtain chimeric genes. The product is then mixed with linearized vector and two pairs of flanking primers, followed by assembly of the chimeric genes and linearized vector by PCR to introduce recombinant plasmids of a combinatorial library. Commonly, it is difficult to find proper restriction sites during the construction of recombinant plasmids after DNA shuffling with multiple homologous genes. However, this disadvantage can be overcome by using the ligase-independent method because the steps of DNA digestion and ligation can be avoided during library construction. Similarly, DNA sequences with random mutations introduced by error-prone PCR can be used to construct recombinant plasmids of a random mutant library with this method. Additionally, this method can meet the needs of large and comprehensive DNA library construction.     

Improved extraction of PCR-quality community DNA from digesta and fecal samples

Several DNA extraction methods have been reported for use with digesta or fecal samples, but problems are often encountered in terms of relatively low DNA yields and/or recovering DNA free of inhibitory substances. Here we report a modified method to extract PCR-quality microbial community DNA from these types of samples, which employs bead beating in the presence of high concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), salt, and EDTA, and with subsequent DNA purification by QIAamp columns [referred to as repeated bead beating plus column (RBB + C) method]. The RBB + C method resulted in a 1.5- to 6-fold increase in DNA yield when compared to three other widely used methods. The community DNA prepared with the RBB + C method was also free of inhibitory substances and resulted in improved denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles, which is indicative of a more complete lysis and representation of microbial diversity present in such samples.     

高温环境样品总DNA直接和间接提取方法的比较

分别采用两种环境总DNA直接提取法和一种间接提取法从6种温泉菌席样品中提取总DNA,以DNA粗产物的纯度、能否用于后续PCR扩增及PCR-DGGE(变性梯度凝胶电泳)所反映的微生物多样性为评价指标对两类方法进行比较和评价。研究发现,虽然间接提取法效率低下,但对于高温极端环境中生物量较小的样品,间接法能得到有研究价值的、纯度较高的环境样品总DNA,而直接法得到的DNA量小且不适于PCR扩增操作。在使用这2类方法都能得到可用于研究操作的DNA的情况下,间接提取法能更好的体现环境样品中微生物的多样性。     

DNA annealing and DNA-protein interactions by capillary electrophoresis

This work deals with annealing of single-stranded DNA and the binding of a serum respond factor to a DNA probe containing specific binding site. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) method is explored and compared with the mobility-shift gel electrophoresis (GE) procedure. The results indicate the CE method offers direct and rapid annealing of the DNA strands. It requires no prior incubation with additives (polynucleotides, proteins) to reduce nonspecific DNA-protein interactions. Unwanted nonspecific interactions are not observed in the CE method. The presence of a fluorescein tag to the DNA probe yields identical results to those with the radioactive label. A fluorescein tag in the CE work can be used without any adverse effects. The dissociation constant (Kd) of this protein-DNA complex by the CE method was similar to those determined by the GE method (approximately 10(-6) M). The proposed method is extremely powerful, highly sensitive, quantitative, and fast. It can determine even very small conformational differences of the DNA probe.     

指甲游离缘的核DNA分型研究

为探讨指甲游离缘核DNA分型的可行性, 采集无关个体指甲游离缘样本10份, 分别以不同消化体系, 采用有机法、Chelex-100法,有机法结合Chelex-100法等3种方法提取指甲游离缘核DNA, AmpFlSTR IdentifierTM试剂盒复合扩增, ABI PRISM 3130自动遗传分析仪检测分析。结果显示：与对照血样比较,有机法结合Chelex-100法提取的样本核DNA均获得满意的STR分型, 有机法提取的样本核DNA可以进行STR分型, 但部分样本图谱峰值不均衡, Chelex-100法提取的样本核DNA不能分型或出现较多等位基因缺失。提示指甲游离缘可以进行成功地核DNA的分型, 有机法和有机法结合Chelex-100法提取的DNA质量都可成功检测, 其中以有机法结合Chelex-100法提取DNA的检测成功率最高。     

A simple and sensitive DNA assay for plant extracts

A sensitive fluorimetric method was developed for the quantitative determination of DNA in plant (Zea mays L. and Medicago sativa L.) extracts. This method takes advantage of the specific increase in fluorescence intensity of the complex of DNA and the dye 4′,6′-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). Recovery of DNA and dissociation of histones from DNA were maximized by the addition of 2.0 molar NaCl to the homogenates. Treatment of the homogenate with chloroform to remove pigments and proteins decreased the quenching of fluorescence of the DAPI-DNA complex. The fluorescence intensity of RNA with DAPI was less than 2% of that produced by an equivalent weight of DNA. Comparisons were made between this fluorimetric DNA method and the commonly used diphenylamine assay for DNA. The diphenylamine DNA assay was more timeconsuming, less sensitive, and consistently resulted in lower estimates of DNA concentrations than did the fluorimetric DNA assay.     

一种简单快速高分辨率的PAGE胶显带方法

尽管使用常规方法对聚丙烯酰胺胶(PAGE胶)进行DNA显带, 能获得高分辨率图片, 但常规方法操作步骤繁琐, 耗时较长。文章报道了一种PAGE胶DNA显带的改进方法, 分别使用改进的显带方法和常规的显带方法进行了PAGE胶的显影和比较。结果表明, 使用改进的显带方法得到的PAGE胶图片, DNA带型和背景具有更高的对比度, 因此具有更高的分辨率; 同时操作步骤少, 耗时短, 使用试剂少。这种方法在本实验室中已经完全代替了常规PAGE胶显带方法。