ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 13

Comparative Identity and Homogeneity Testing of the mtDNA HV1 Region Using Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis
Karjala, JD
Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory, Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, MD

Tully, LA
University of Maryland at Baltimore, School of Medicine, Division of Human Genetics, MD

Coble, MD
Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory, Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, MD

Holland, MM
Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory, Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, MD

Steighner, RJ
Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory, Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, MD

(Received 20 October 1998; accepted 15 February 1999)

Abstract

A denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) assay has been developed for comparative identity and homogeneity testing of the mtDNA HV1 region. A total of 49 pairs of sequences, each pair differing by a single unique polymorphism, were tested to verify the reliability of the assay. Discrimination between all pairings was achieved as judged by the resolution of the mismatch-containing heteroduplexes from the fully base-paired homoduplexes. In all but two pairings, resolution of the fully base-paired homoduplexes was also obtained. Sequence pairs differing by multiple polymorphisms were also tested and resulted in a greater separation between the homo- and heteroduplexes. Additional information derived from the technique includes the identification of co-amplifying contaminating or heteroplasmic samples in the independent samples lanes. Thirteen heteroplasmic samples, six at positions distinct from those analyzed in the pairwise comparison study, were analyzed and the heteroplasmic positions identified unambiguously by sequencing the excised bands. The technique constitutes a conceptually simple, accurate, and inexpensive test for determining whether two sequences match within the mtDNA HV1 region, while providing a more definitive control for the identification of co-amplifying contaminating or heteroplasmic sequences than is presently available.

Keywords:
forensic science, DNA typing, mitochondrial DNA, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, heteroduplex, sequence matching, human identification

Paper ID: JFS14586J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14586J
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