Effect of Fabric Dyes and Metal Surfaces on DNA Amplification

Authors

  • Salahudeen Alrabie College of Biotechnology, University of Modern Sciences, United Arab Emirates
  • Maryam Yaqoob College of Biotechnology, University of Modern Sciences, United Arab Emirates
  • Hamda Turkiah Gen. Dep. of Forensic Science & Criminology, Dubai Police, UAE
  • Jawad Salehi College of Biotechnology, University of Modern Sciences, United Arab Emirates
  • Sheikha Sanqoor Gen. Dep. of Forensic Science & Criminology, Dubai Police, UAE
  • Venkata Lakshmi College of Biotechnology, University of Modern Sciences, United Arab Emirates
  • Muhammad Nazir College of Biotechnology, University of Modern Sciences, United Arab Emirates

Keywords:

Forensic Science, DNA Evidence, PCR inhibition.

Abstract

Cloths and metal objects are material evidences frequently found on crime scenes and can provide valuable information hidden in the form of DNA, either perpetrator’s or victims’. DNA profiling is an important aspect of forensic investigation and requires extraction and amplification of the DNA from evidence. These procedures can be affected by the chemical and physical properties of the evidence. For example, synthetic dye molecules such as SYBR Green I is known to intercalate with DNA and show PCR inhibition when present above certain threshold concentration. On the other hand, chemical interactions between metal ions and specific binding sites on DNA can strongly affect DNA’s structure and stability. The metal ions can also result in PCR inhibition. In this study, the effect of five different coloured cloths (white, black, red, blue and green) and five different metal surfaces (iron, rusty iron, stainless steel, lead and copper) on DNA extraction and amplification was assessed. DNA quantification was performed using CFX96 Touch™ Real Time PCR Detection System (BioRad®) after PCR amplification using RAG-1 primers. Results revealed that different metal surfaces and fabric dyes had no effect on PCR amplification, eliminating the probability of inhibitors present due to use of DNA extraction kits. Future research should be focused on the relationship of different variables influencing DNA persistence on different types of hard surfaces such as wood and glass and also clothes with different colors and composition.

References

K.M. Turman. “Understanding DNA Evidence: A Guide for Victim Service Providers.” Office of Justice Programs. 2001. Retrieved on June, 30, 2013.

A.J. Jeffreys, V. Wilson, S.L. Thein. “Hypervariable 'minisatellite' regions in human DNA”. Nature, 314, pp.67-73, 1985.

L. Koblinsky. “Recovery and stability of DNA in samples of forensic science significance.” Forensic Sci. Rev, 4(1), pp.68–87, 1992.

J. Bessetti. “An introduction to PCR inhibitors.” Profiles in DNA, 10(1), pp.9–10, 2007.

B.H. Perdigon, C.G. Calacal, L.K. Co Seng, C.S. Halos, A.M. De Ungria. “Evaluation and In-House Validation of Five DNA Extraction Methods for PCR-based STR Analysis of Bloodstained Denims.” Science Diliman, 16(1), pp.37-38, 2004.

F. Mao, W.Y. Leung, X. Xin. “Characterization of EvaGreen and the implication of its physicochemical properties for qPCR applications.” BMC Biotechnology, 7, pp.76, 2007.

P. Rådström, R. Knutsson, P. Wolffs, M. Lövenklev, C. Löfström. “Pre-PCR processing: Strategies to generate PCR-compatible samples.” Molecular Biotechnology, 26, pp.133–146, 2004.

P. Neubauer, B. Wrobel, G. Wegrzyn. “DNA degradation at elevated temperatures after plasmid amplification in amino acid-starved Escherichia coli cells.” Biotechnology letters, 18(3), pp.321-326, 1996.

J.I. Sheu, E.Y.Sheu. “Characterization of DNA degradation using direct current conductivity and dynamic dielectric relaxation techniques.” AAPS PharmSciTech, 7(2), pp.E38-E44, 2006.

T.J. Verdon, R. Mitchell, R.A. Oorschot. “The influence of substrate on DNA transfer and extraction efficiency.” Forensic Science International: Genetics, 7(1): pp.167–175, 2013.

M.S. Nazir, S. Iyavoo, S. Alimat, N. Zahra, S.H. Sanqoor, J.A. Smith, C. Moffatt, W. Goodwin. “Development of a multiplex system to assess DNA persistence in taphonomic studies.” Electrophoresis, 34(24), pp.3352-60, 2013.

L.H. Seah, M.I. Othman, P. Jaya, N.H. Jeevan. “DNA profiling on fabrics: an in-situ method.” International Congress Series, 1261, pp.565– 567, 2004.

J.J. Butzow, G.L. Eichhorn. “Different susceptibility of DNA and RNA to cleavage by metal ions”. Nature, 254, pp.358 – 359, 1975

Downloads

Published

2018-05-16

How to Cite

Alrabie, S., Yaqoob, M., Turkiah, H., Salehi, J., Sanqoor, S., Lakshmi, V., & Nazir, M. (2018). Effect of Fabric Dyes and Metal Surfaces on DNA Amplification. International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research (IJSBAR), 38(2), 152–159. Retrieved from https://www.gssrr.org/index.php/JournalOfBasicAndApplied/article/view/8844

Issue

Section

Articles