CMB2000 - research skills Flashcards
Principally, what does PCR do?
Amplify DNA
DNA replication in prokaryotes
- DNA helicase unwinds DNA -> replication fork
- RNA primers bind template -> dsDNA
- polymerase joins nucleotides together
what happens on the 5’->3’ strand during DNA replication (DNA polymerase)
DNA pol can only run 3’->5’
leads to okasaki fragments on lagging strand
joined together later using ligase
role of sliding clamps
keeps polymerase in place on the DNA during eukaryotic DNA replication
Components needed for PCR
DNA template, Primers, Taq polymerase, dNTPs, MgCl2 (co-factor), 10x tris HCl buffer
Steps of PCR
- dsDNA is boiled at 95C -> ssDNA
- cooled to 55C to anneal primers
- heat back up to 72C, extend with polymerase and dNTPs
- repeat to amplify DNA between primer locations
How are PCR products detected?
stained with an intercalating gel (e.g. ethidium bromide - red under UV), and products are ran on agarose gel using electrophoerisis
How to do PCR if you start with RNA?
reverse transcriptase PCR converts RNA to cDNA first
SYBR green
fluorescent marker that binds to grooves of dsDNA
TAQMan
fluorescent, uses probes with reporter and quencher
more PCR product = more fluorescence
reference genes
housekeeping genes at a constant level of expression
Why is PCR clinically valuable?
Sensitive, specific, cheap, rapid, robust
3 uses of PCR in diagnosis/prognosis
- genotyping the patient
- genotyping the pathogen
- phenotyping the disease (Snapshot in time)
what is PCR-RFLP?
PCR Restriction fragment polymorphism
- uses restriction endonucleases
what is ARMS-PCR?
Amplification refractory mutation system
- detects allelic variants using allele specific primers
three conventional diagnostic techniques that can be replaced with PCR
microscopy, culture, patient antibody response
key tehnique for phenotyping a disease?
quantitative PCR
what is the ct value?
cycle threshold - how many cycles needed before fluorescence is visible.
lower ct = more nucleic acid/DNA
at what stage would you expect the lowest ct value?
immediately after infection, before immune system has had time to act
4 steps of DNA isolation
- cell lysis
- DNA purification from cell extraction
- concentrate DNA
- measure DNA purity and concentration
methods of cell lysis/DNA extraction
Biological - enzymes (lysozyme in bacteria, sappanin in eukaryotic)
physical - osmotic pressure/ freeze-thaw
mechanical - grinding, friction, shearing
DNA purification
Phenol-chloroform extraction
- then centrifuged
OR
column purification commercial kits
- silica membrane
Restriction endonucleases
molecular scissors that cut DNA in precise location
what are restriction endonucleases used for?
- make recombinant DNA molecules
- cut DNA insto defined fragments
Types of REs
sticky ends or blunt ends
RE recognition sites are often….
palindromic