U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

Are We Fishing or Catching? Evaluating the Efficiency of Bait Capture of CODIS Fragments

NCJ Number
252453
Journal
Forensic Science International-Genetics Volume: 29 Dated: July 2017 Pages: 61-70
Date Published
July 2017
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study sought to document the efficiency of DNA bait capture (i.e., "fishing") methods by two measures: (1) its ability to retain targeted DNA molecules, and (2) its ability to remove non-target DNA molecules from a pool containing both.
Abstract

DNA bait capture uses synthetic biotinylated DNA primers to bind target DNA, which are then immobilized onto streptavidin coated magnetic beads and drawn to a magnet. Bound DNA should, therefore, be isolated from non-target DNA and impurities (e.g., PCR inhibitors) and can be later eluted from the beads for downstream applications. Efficiencies were estimated by comparing the number of "copies in" to "copies out" with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Retention of target DNA molecules, ranging from 109 to 288 base pairs (bps) in length, averaged just 9.06-3.53 percent (i.e., loss of 90.94-96.47 percent) using the fishing protocol as originally described. Some improvement was achieved by employing a modified protocol (i.e., with a shortened hybridization time, use of twice the amount of M-270 streptavidin-coated beads, and modified bead washing), resulting in average retention of 31.41-12.08 percent of the same set of targeted molecules. Noted was the lack of efficacy in removing non-target DNA molecules as opposed to targeted molecules. It was also observed that most of the molecules (61.35-69.49 percent) are "lost" during the essential hybridization step of the fishing protocol, suggesting its suitability for high copy number samples only. Although the bait capture method may be useful in the study of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) inhibited DNA samples as previously suggested, it is necessary to carefully weigh this possible advantage against the degree of expected DNA loss and the non-selectivity of the method for targeted over non-targeted DNA. (publisher abstract modified)

Date Published: July 1, 2017