High-resolution melt analysis of DNA methylation to discriminate semen in biological stains.
Anal Biochem
; 494: 40-5, 2016 Feb 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26470939
ABSTRACT
The goal of this study was to develop a method for the detection of semen in biological stains using high-resolution melt (HRM) analysis and DNA methylation. To perform this task, we used an epigenetic locus that targets a tissue-specific differentially methylated region for semen. This specific locus, ZC3H12D, contains methylated CpG sites that are hypomethylated in semen and hypermethylated in blood and saliva. Using this procedure, DNA from forensic stains can be isolated, processed using bisulfite-modified polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and detected by real-time PCR with HRM capability. The method described in this article is robust; we were able to obtain results from samples with as little as 1 ng of genomic DNA. Samples inhibited by humic acid still produced reliable results. Furthermore, the procedure is specific and will not amplify non-bisulfite-modified DNA. Because this process can be performed using real-time PCR and is quantitative, it fits nicely within the workflow of current forensic DNA laboratories. As a result, it should prove to be a useful technique for processing trace evidence samples for serological analysis.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Semen
/
DNA
/
Forensic Genetics
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Anal Biochem
Year:
2016
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States
Country of publication:
EEUU
/
ESTADOS UNIDOS
/
ESTADOS UNIDOS DA AMERICA
/
EUA
/
UNITED STATES
/
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
/
US
/
USA