scholarly journals Chiral DNA sequences as commutable reference standards for clinical genomics

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ira W. Deveson ◽  
Bindu Swapna Madala ◽  
James Blackburn ◽  
Chris Barker ◽  
Ted Wong ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTChirality is a geometric property describing any object that is inequivalent to a mirror image of itself. Due to its 5’-3’ directionality, a DNA sequence is distinct from a mirrored sequence arranged in reverse nucleotide order, and is therefore chiral. A given sequence and its opposing chiral partner sequence share many properties, such as nucleotide composition and sequence entropy. Here we demonstrate that chiral DNA sequence pairs also perform equivalently during molecular and bioinformatic techniques that underpin modern genetic analysis, including PCR amplification, hybridization, whole-genome, target-enriched and nanopore sequencing, sequence alignment and variant detection. Given these shared properties, synthetic DNA sequences that directly mirror clinically relevant and/or analytically challenging regions of the human genome are ideal reference standards for clinical genomics. We show how the addition of chiral DNA standards to patient tumor samples can prevent false-positive and false-negative mutation detection and, thereby, improve diagnosis. Accordingly, we propose that chiral DNA standards can fulfill the unmet need for commutable internal reference standards in precision medicine.

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 1099-1106
Author(s):  
Emre Sevindik ◽  
Zehra Tuğba Murathan ◽  
Sümeyye Filiz ◽  
Kübra Yalçin

Genetic diversity among Turkish apple genotypes in Ardahan province was conducted based on cpDNA trnL-F sequences. Apple genotypes were plotted on a phylogenetic tree where Pyrus x bretschneideri was used as the outgroup. The plant samples were collected from different locations and genomic DNA was isolated from healthy and green leaves. For sequence in trnL-F region trnLe and trnFf primers were used. Later obtained DNA sequences were edited using the BioEdit and FinchTV. Sequencing data were analyzed using MEGA 6.0 software. Neighbor joining and bootstrap trees were constructed in order to verify the relationships among the apple genotypes. Phylogenetic tree consisted of two clades. The divergence values of trnL-F sequences differed between 0.000 and 0.005. Average nucleotide composition was 38.3 T, 14.9 C, 31.9 A and 14.9% G. The phylogenetic tree constructed based on trnL-F region sequences was nearly parallel to prior phylogenetic studies on apple genotypes.


Genome ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 434-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qin Zhou ◽  
Pia M Untalan ◽  
David S Haymer

Copies of a repetitive DNA sequence distributed over 90% of the length of the long arm of the Y chromosome of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (medfly), have been characterized. Sequencing reveals that these repeats, ranging in size from approximately 1.3 to 1.7 kb, are A-T rich overall (67%). In most cases the repeat units appear to occur in tandemly linked arrays. The repeat copies also all contain a highly similar internal region, approximately 200 bp in length, with a more extreme A-T content bias. This internal region, designated as the AT element, exhibits an A-T content of at least 83%. This exceeds what has been described for any comparable element among invertebrates. Using primers designed from the DNA sequence, PCR amplification of an internal region encompassing the AT element also reveals that these sequences are present only in the male genome in different strains of the medfly.Key words: Y chromosome, medfly, Ceratitis capitata, AT elements, A-T content.


2021 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
pp. 1388-1393
Author(s):  
Florence C. H. Lee ◽  
Vickneshwaran Muthu

ABSTRACTSarcocystosis outbreaks in Tioman and Pangkor islands of Malaysia between 2011 and 2014 have raised the need to improve Sarcocystis species detection from environmental samples. In-house works found that published primers amplifying the 18S rRNA gene of Sarcocystis either could not produce the target from environmental samples or produced Sarcocystis DNA sequence that was insufficient for species identification. Using the primer pair of 18S S5 F (published) and 28S R6 R (new), this study improved the PCR amplification of Sarcocystidae to overcome these two difficulties. The PCR product spanned from the 18S to 28S rRNA genes, providing more information for species identification. The long DNA sequence allowed comparison between the “Ident” and “Query Cover” sorting in GenBank identity matching. This revealed the ambiguity in identity matching caused by different lengths of reference DNA sequences, which is seldom discussed in the literature. Using the disparity index test, a measurement of homogeneity in nucleotide substitution pattern, it is shown that the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)1-5.8S-ITS2 and 28S genes are better than the 18S gene in indicating nucleotide variations, implying better potentials for species identification. The example given by the handful of Sarcocystidae long DNA sequences reported herein calls for the need to report DNA sequence from the 18S to the 28S rRNA genes for species identification, especially among emerging pathogens. DNA sequence reporting should include the hypervariable 5.8S and ITS2 regions where applicable, and not be limited to single gene, per the current general trend.


Author(s):  
Barbara Trask ◽  
Susan Allen ◽  
Anne Bergmann ◽  
Mari Christensen ◽  
Anne Fertitta ◽  
...  

Using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), the positions of DNA sequences can be discretely marked with a fluorescent spot. The efficiency of marking DNA sequences of the size cloned in cosmids is 90-95%, and the fluorescent spots produced after FISH are ≈0.3 μm in diameter. Sites of two sequences can be distinguished using two-color FISH. Different reporter molecules, such as biotin or digoxigenin, are incorporated into DNA sequence probes by nick translation. These reporter molecules are labeled after hybridization with different fluorochromes, e.g., FITC and Texas Red. The development of dual band pass filters (Chromatechnology) allows these fluorochromes to be photographed simultaneously without registration shift.


2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 548-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew A. Travers ◽  
Georgi Muskhelishvili

How much information is encoded in the DNA sequence of an organism? We argue that the informational, mechanical and topological properties of DNA are interdependent and act together to specify the primary characteristics of genetic organization and chromatin structures. Superhelicity generated in vivo, in part by the action of DNA translocases, can be transmitted to topologically sensitive regions encoded by less stable DNA sequences.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1943
Author(s):  
Joo-Young Kim ◽  
Ju Yeon Jung ◽  
Da-Hye Kim ◽  
Seohyun Moon ◽  
Won-Hae Lee ◽  
...  

Analytical techniques such as DNA profiling are widely used in various fields, including forensic science, and novel technologies such as direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification are continuously being developed in order to acquire DNA profiles efficiently. However, non-specific amplification may occur depending on the quality of the crime scene evidence and amplification methods employed. In particular, the ski-slope effect observed in direct PCR amplification has led to inaccurate interpretations of the DNA profile results. In this study, we aimed to reduce the ski-slope effect by using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in direct PCR. We confirmed that DMSO (3.75%, v/v) increased the amplification yield of large-sized DNA sequences more than that of small-sized ones. Using 50 Korean buccal samples, we further demonstrated that DMSO reduced the ski-slope effect in direct PCR. These results suggest that the experimental method developed in this study is suitable for direct PCR and may help to successfully obtain DNA profiles from various types of evidence at crime scenes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 816
Author(s):  
Matthew G. Links ◽  
Tim J. Dumonceaux ◽  
E. Luke McCarthy ◽  
Sean M. Hemmingsen ◽  
Edward Topp ◽  
...  

Background. The molecular profiling of complex microbial communities has become the basis for examining the relationship between the microbiome composition, structure and metabolic functions of those communities. Microbial community structure can be partially assessed with “universal” PCR targeting taxonomic or functional gene markers. Increasingly, shotgun metagenomic DNA sequencing is providing more quantitative insight into microbiomes. However, both amplicon-based and shotgun sequencing approaches have shortcomings that limit the ability to study microbiome dynamics. Methods. We present a novel, amplicon-free, hybridization-based method (CaptureSeq) for profiling complex microbial communities using probes based on the chaperonin-60 gene. Molecular profiles of a commercially available synthetic microbial community standard were compared using CaptureSeq, whole metagenome sequencing, and 16S universal target amplification. Profiles were also generated for natural ecosystems including antibiotic-amended soils, manure storage tanks, and an agricultural reservoir. Results. The CaptureSeq method generated a microbial profile that encompassed all of the bacteria and eukaryotes in the panel with greater reproducibility and more accurate representation of high G/C content microorganisms compared to 16S amplification. In the natural ecosystems, CaptureSeq provided a much greater depth of coverage and sensitivity of detection compared to shotgun sequencing without prior selection. The resulting community profiles provided quantitatively reliable information about all three domains of life (Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya) in the different ecosystems. The applications of CaptureSeq will facilitate accurate studies of host-microbiome interactions for environmental, crop, animal and human health. Conclusions: cpn60-based hybridization enriched for taxonomically informative DNA sequences from complex mixtures. In synthetic and natural microbial ecosystems, CaptureSeq provided sequences from prokaryotes and eukaryotes simultaneously, with quantitatively reliable read abundances. CaptureSeq provides an alternative to PCR amplification of taxonomic markers with deep community coverage while minimizing amplification biases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anastasios A. Tsonis ◽  
Geli Wang ◽  
Lvyi Zhang ◽  
Wenxu Lu ◽  
Aristotle Kayafas ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Mathematical approaches have been for decades used to probe the structure of DNA sequences. This has led to the development of Bioinformatics. In this exploratory work, a novel mathematical method is applied to probe the DNA structure of two related viral families: those of coronaviruses and those of influenza viruses. The coronaviruses are SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1, and MERS. The influenza viruses include H1N1-1918, H1N1-2009, H2N2-1957, and H3N2-1968. Methods The mathematical method used is the slow feature analysis (SFA), a rather new but promising method to delineate complex structure in DNA sequences. Results The analysis indicates that the DNA sequences exhibit an elaborate and convoluted structure akin to complex networks. We define a measure of complexity and show that each DNA sequence exhibits a certain degree of complexity within itself, while at the same time there exists complex inter-relationships between the sequences within a family and between the two families. From these relationships, we find evidence, especially for the coronavirus family, that increasing complexity in a sequence is associated with higher transmission rate but with lower mortality. Conclusions The complexity measure defined here may hold a promise and could become a useful tool in the prediction of transmission and mortality rates in future new viral strains.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyoko Yoshizaki ◽  
Akihiro Hirata ◽  
Hiroyuki Matsushita ◽  
Naohito Nishii ◽  
Mifumi Kawabe ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) neoplastic polyps in Jack Russell terriers (JRTs) has increased in Japan since the late 2000s. Recently, we demonstrated that JRTs with GI polyps harbor identical germline variant in the APC gene (c.[462_463delinsTT]) in the heterozygous state. Thus, this disease is an autosomal dominant hereditary disorder. Although the affected JRTs have distinct features, such as the development of multiple GI polyps and an early age of disease onset, genetic testing is indispensable for a definitive diagnosis. Here, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays capable of detecting germline APC variant were designed and validated using synthetic wild-type and mutant DNAs and genomic DNAs from carrier and non-carrier dogs. Result First, the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay was developed by taking advantage of the germline APC variant creating a new restriction site for MseI. In the PCR-RFLP assay, the 156-bp region containing the variant site was amplified by PCR and subsequently digested with MseI, yielding diagnostic 51 and 58 bp fragments from the mutant allele and allowing determination of the APC genotypes. It was possible to determine the genotypes using genomic DNA extracted from the peripheral blood, buccal swab, or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue. Next, a TaqMan duplex real-time PCR assay was developed, where a 78-bp region flanking the variant was amplified in the presence of wild-type allele- and mutant allele-specific fluorescent probes. Using blood-derived DNA, altogether 40 cycles of PCR amplification determined the APC genotypes of all examined samples by measuring the fluorescence intensities. Importantly, false-positive and false-negative errors were never detected in both assays. Conclusion In this study, we developed highly reliable genetic tests for hereditary GI polyposis in JRTs, providing accurate assessment of the presence of the causative germline APC variant. The genotyping assays could contribute to the diagnosis and prevention of hereditary GI polyposis in dogs.


1999 ◽  
Vol 341 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianluca TELL ◽  
Lucia PELLIZZARI ◽  
Gennaro ESPOSITO ◽  
Carlo PUCILLO ◽  
Paolo Emidio MACCHIA ◽  
...  

Pax proteins are transcriptional regulators that play important roles during embryogenesis. These proteins recognize specific DNA sequences via a conserved element: the paired domain (Prd domain). The low level of organized secondary structure, in the free state, is a general feature of Prd domains; however, these proteins undergo a dramatic gain in α-helical content upon interaction with DNA (‘induced fit’). Pax8 is expressed in the developing thyroid, kidney and several areas of the central nervous system. In humans, mutations of the Pax8 gene, which are mapped to the coding region of the Prd domain, give rise to congenital hypothyroidism. Here, we have investigated the molecular defects caused by a mutation in which leucine at position 62 is substituted for an arginine. Leu62 is conserved among Prd domains, and contributes towards the packing together of helices 1 and 3. The binding affinity of the Leu62Arg mutant for a specific DNA sequence (the C sequence of thyroglobulin promoter) is decreased 60-fold with respect to the wild-type Pax8 Prd domain. However, the affinities with which the wild-type and the mutant proteins bind to a non-specific DNA sequence are very similar. CD spectra demonstrate that, in the absence of DNA, both wild-type Pax8 and the Leu62Arg mutant possess a low α-helical content; however, in the Leu62Arg mutant, the gain in α-helical content upon interaction with DNA is greatly reduced with respect to the wild-type protein. Thus the molecular defect of the Leu62Arg mutant causes a reduced capability for induced fit upon DNA interaction.


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