Tools of Molecular Genetics Flashcards
Cut DNA molecules at specific sites
-Reckognizes short sequences of double stranded DNA up to 4-8 bps
Restriction Nucleases
Recognize palindromic (read the same 5’ to 3’) sequences
Restriction Nucleases
Once restriction enzymes recognize the pallindromic sequences, they cut in which two ways?
- ) Blunt ends
2. ) Sticky ends
A cut at the center of the recognition sequence results in
Blunt ends
The sticky end cuts are very useful when we are trying to
Clone DNA
RNA gel electrophoresis is similar to DNA gel electrophoresis with what exception?
RNA forms extensive secondary structure
The extensive secondary structure that RNA forms prevents it from migrating strictly according to its size. How do we get around this?
Add denaturants such as formamide
What do we use to visualize the electrophoresis gels of DNA and RNA?
Ethidium bromide staining or radioisotope labeling
To visualize the DNA bands, the gel is soaked in a dye (such as ethidium bromide) that binds to DNA and fluoresces brightly under
UV light
An alternative method for visualizing DNA is
-The exposure of x-ray film to a radioactive sample
Autoradiography
DNA can be labeled with radioactive isotope
-Will expose autoradiographic film
P32
Allows us to compare and analyze DNA and RNA molecules of identical or related sequences
Hybridization
Advantageous for detecting specific species of DNA or RNA in a mixture and estimating the quantities of each
Hybridization
The single stranded DNA or RNA used to detect the unknown DNA is called a
Probe
How can we denature the double stranded DNA or folded RNA so that we can hybridize with our probe?
Denature with either High temp or High pH
Once we add the probe, we can allow the DNA to reannel by
Lowering the temp or pH
We pick conditions to ensure that DNA or RNA anneals with our probe. How well these conditions allow our DNA or RNA to anneal together is called
Stringency of conditions
The higher the stringency, the
Lower the probability of hybridization
Increasing the temperature or amount of denaturing agent such as formamide raises the
-Lowers probability of hybridization
Stringency
If we want only a very specific fragment to anneal with a probe, we can adjust conditions accordingly. For example, we could
Raise temp or concentration of formamide
If we want to anneal heteroduplexes with mismatches, we can use
Lower temp or lower conc. of formaldehyde
Another way to manipulate stringency is through the length of the
Probe
Form stable heteroduplexes with target sequences that are similar but not identical to the probe
Longer nucleic acid sequences (more than 100 nucleotides long)
Allows cross-species analyses and identification of distantly related members of a gene family
Reduced stringency
Less tolerant of sequence mismatches than long probes
Short probes
Makes it so that it is possible to select for perfectly matched duplexes only
Short probes (High stringency)
Long probes can form stable hybrids even in the presence of
Mismatches
Allow you to distinguish between allelic sequences that differ by just a single nucleotide
Short probes (High stringency)
An inherited difference in the pattern of restriction enzyme digetion
Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP)
In order to detect RFLP we need to use
Restriction fragments
The target molecule of interest in southern blotting is
DNA
Used to detect specific DNA fragments
Southern Blotting
Useful in investigating the number of copies of a gene or whether there are large deletions, insertions, or rearrangments
-Can also be used to detect a point mutation
Southern Blotting
Describe a southern Blot
- ) Unlabeled DNA cut w/ restriction enzyme
- ) DNA fragments separated by agarose gel electrophoresis
- ) Fragments blotted onto nitrocellulose paper
- ) Labeled DNA probe hybridized to separated DNA
- ) Sheet is washed so that only hybridized DNA fragments remain
- ) Labeled hybridized fragments visualized by autordiography
An adaptation of southern blotting to detect specific sequences in RNA
Northern Blotting
The radioactive probe for Northern Blotting is usually a
Single stranded cDNA molecule
Allow us to monitor gene expression levels
Northern Blots
More efficient way than a Northern Blot to monitor gene expression levels
DNA microarrays
Used to monitor the expression of many thousands of genes simultaneously
DNA microarrays
How do DNA microarrays work?
Reverse transcribed mRNA is turned into cDNA labeled with fluorochrome and hybridized to a microarray. The colored spots on the microarray will show which gene is expressed at a higher level
Designed to match the nucleotide sequence flanking the substitution
Allele-specific Oligonucleotides (ASOs)
Patient DNA is hybridized to a panel of mutation specific probes
Allele specific Blotting