Biomaterial Database

Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of mitochondrial DNA point mutation. 2006

Lee-Jun C Wong, and Ren-Kui Bai

Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houson, Texas, USA.

Mitochondrial respiratory chain disorders are a group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous diseases. Several mitochondrial (mt)DNA point mutations are responsible for common mitochondrial diseases. These pathogenic mtDNA point mutations are usually heteroplasmic. Molecular diagnosis of the disease requires both qualitative detection of the mutation and quantitative analysis of the mutant heteroplasmy. In this report, two methods based on real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis are used. The first method utilizes wild-type or mutant sequence-specific TaqMan probe, which is labeled with a fluorescent reporter molecule at the 5'-end of the oligonucleotide probe and a quencher at the 3'-end of the probe. The second method utilizes sequence-specific primers to amplify the wild-type or mutant sequence followed by SYBR green detection of PCR products. Both methods allow simultaneous detection and quantification of the mutant mtDNA. In this chapter, we describe the detailed procedures regarding the application of fluorescent probes, and real time quantitative PCR in the molecular diagnosis of mitochondrial DNA disorders.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D004272	DNA, Mitochondrial	Double-stranded DNA of MITOCHONDRIA. In eukaryotes, the mitochondrial GENOME is circular and codes for ribosomal RNAs, transfer RNAs, and about 10 proteins.	Mitochondrial DNA,mtDNA
D005456	Fluorescent Dyes	Chemicals that emit light after excitation by light. The wave length of the emitted light is usually longer than that of the incident light. Fluorochromes are substances that cause fluorescence in other substances, i.e., dyes used to mark or label other compounds with fluorescent tags.	Flourescent Agent,Fluorescent Dye,Fluorescent Probe,Fluorescent Probes,Fluorochrome,Fluorochromes,Fluorogenic Substrates,Fluorescence Agents,Fluorescent Agents,Fluorogenic Substrate,Agents, Fluorescence,Agents, Fluorescent,Dyes, Fluorescent,Probes, Fluorescent,Substrates, Fluorogenic
D005838	Genotype	The genetic constitution of the individual, comprising the ALLELES present at each GENETIC LOCUS.	Genogroup,Genogroups,Genotypes
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D015335	Molecular Probes	A group of atoms or molecules attached to other molecules or cellular structures and used in studying the properties of these molecules and structures. Radioactive DNA or RNA sequences are used in MOLECULAR GENETICS to detect the presence of a complementary sequence by NUCLEIC ACID HYBRIDIZATION.	Molecular Probe,Probe, Molecular,Probes, Molecular
D015336	Molecular Probe Techniques	The use of devices which use detector molecules to detect, investigate, or analyze other molecules, macromolecules, molecular aggregates, or organisms.	Molecular Probe Technic,Molecular Probe Technics,Molecular Probe Technique,Technic, Molecular Probe,Technics, Molecular Probe,Technique, Molecular Probe,Techniques, Molecular Probe,Probe Technic, Molecular,Probe Technics, Molecular,Probe Technique, Molecular,Probe Techniques, Molecular
D017354	Point Mutation	A mutation caused by the substitution of one nucleotide for another. This results in the DNA molecule having a change in a single base pair.	Mutation, Point,Mutations, Point,Point Mutations
D020133	Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction	A variation of the PCR technique in which cDNA is made from RNA via reverse transcription. The resultant cDNA is then amplified using standard PCR protocols.	Polymerase Chain Reaction, Reverse Transcriptase,Reverse Transcriptase PCR,PCR, Reverse Transcriptase,Transcriptase PCR, Reverse
D031541	Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer	A type of FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY using two FLUORESCENT DYES with overlapping emission and absorption spectra, which is used to indicate proximity of labeled molecules. This technique is useful for studying interactions of molecules and PROTEIN FOLDING.	Forster Resonance Energy Transfer