Gl. Mutter et Ka. Boynton, PCR BIAS IN AMPLIFICATION OF ANDROGEN RECEPTOR ALLELES, A TRINUCLEOTIDE REPEAT MARKER USED IN CLONALITY STUDIES, Nucleic acids research, 23(8), 1995, pp. 1411-1418
Trinucleotide CAG repeats in the X-linked human androgen receptor gene
(HUMARA) have proved a useful means of determining X chromosome haplo
types, and when combined with methylation analysis of nearby cytosine
residues permits identification of non-random X inactivation in tumors
of women. Co-amplification of two alleles in a heterozygote generates
PCR products which differ in the number of CAG units, and thus their
melting and secondary structure characteristics. We have shown that un
der optimal conditions amplification efficiency of two HUMARA alleles
is near-equivalent, generating PCR products in a ratio proportional to
that of the genomic template. In contrast, reduction of template quan
tity, damage of template by ultraviolet irradiation or addition of mon
ovalent salts (sodium chloride, sodium acetate or ammonium acetate) pr
oduces highly variable imbalances of allelic PCR products, with a stro
ng tendency to preferentially amplify lower molecular weight alleles.
Variability and biasing was diminished by substitution of 7-deaza-2'-d
GTP for dGTP during amplification, an intervention which reduces stabi
lity of intramolecular and intermolecular GC base pairing. We conclude
that DNA which is scanty, damaged or salt contaminated may display am
plification bias of GC-rich PCR targets, potentially confounding accur
ate interpretation or reproducility of assays which require co-amplifi
cation of bi alleles.